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France : Toulouse - April 2009

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Known as La Ville Rose (the Pink City), Toulouse’s distinctive rosy brickwork glows in the gentle spring sunshine. This month, you’ll be able to sample local produce and pick up ideas for your home and garden at the Foire Internationale (at the Parc des Expositions until 6 April) and soak up some culture at the Forum de l’Image, the city’s annual festival of contemporary visual arts (20 April – 3 May). Onnaca Heron finds a city in full bloom

Getting around

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is 8km north-west of the city.

Bus: A shuttle bus leaves every 20 minutes for the city centre. A single ticket costs €3,90, and a return is €5,90.
Taxi: There are specific taxi stands at the airport, or you can order one by phone. A journey to the city centre costs around €25.
Tourist information: The main office is on Square du Général de Gaulle (tel. , toulousetourisme. com).

COMPANS CAFFARELLI

Locals love strolling the environs of Compans Caffarelli – the Parc de Toulouse is a favourite haunt. It’s also home to some of Toulouse’s lessvisited tourist attractions.

Sleep soundly – For spacious rooms and reasonably priced suites with private patios, go for the Hôtel de Brienne (20 Boulevard Maréchal Leclerc, tel. , hoteldebrienne.com, rooms from €81), located near the Brienne canal.

Culture vultures – Founded in 1981, the serene Jardin Japonais (Esplanade Campans-Caffarelli, 160 Boulevard Lascrosse) is a Japanese garden based on the 16th-century gardens of Kyoto and has been awarded a prestigious Grand Prix for its exotic blossoms. Cross over the red wooden bridge to the pavilion that serves up Japanese teas and cakes.

Must eat – Restaurant Michel Sarran (21 Boulevard Armand Duportal, tel. ) serves refined regional cuisine prepared by one of the brightest stars in the Michelin guide. Award-winning wines complement exquisite presentation.

Shop til you drop – If raï, chaabi (North African folk music), henna and incense are your thing, then check out Medina Music (6 Rue Saint Charles), which regularly hosts group dance lessons.

LES CARMES/ESQUIROL

Pedestrianised shopping, lively bars and pubs, historic sites everywhere you turn – les Carmes is a must-see during your visit to Toulouse.

Must eat – Toulouse’s oldest restaurant, La Corde (4 Rue Jules Chalande, tel. ), is one of the city’s finest and most expensive eateries. It serves regional cuisine and has an award-winning wine cellar. For fresh and affordable vegetarian meals (including vegan, buffet and take-out options) check out La Faim des Haricots (3 Rue du Puits Vert, tel. ). It does a wonderful vegetarian chili and a good aubergine ratatouille.

Must drink – There are bars all over this neighborhood. Enjoy l’apéro (evening cocktails) on the terrace at the Classico Café (37 Rue des Filatiers), a bar where students congregate to listen to electro and house. Or try Le Comptoir des Carmes (Place des Carmes) for brasserie ambience right in the thick of things.

Shop til you drop – Vintage franges (thrift shop clothes) and unique second-hand gifts and accessories are the order of the day at Le Grenier d’Anais (54 Rue Peyrolières). Visit Au Marché Noir (14 Place des Carmes) for fine local products such as spices, honey, cheeses and meats.

GARONNE/LEFT BANK

Guided boat trips along the Garonne River and canals leave regularly from Quai de la Daurade and the Ponts Jumeaux. You can also cruise the quais on a rented bike (tel. ). Or cross over the Pont Neuf on foot to the other half of Toulouse, the beautiful Left Bank.

Sleep soundly – L’Hôtel Duprat (17 bis Place Roguet, tel. , rooms from €70) is quaint, clean and unpretentious. Hôtel Gascogne (25 Allées Charles-de-Fitte, tel. , hotel-gascogne.com, rooms from €40) is a two-star hotel just down the street from the modern art museum.

Culture vultures – The Left Bank’s main attraction is the Hôtel-Dieu Saint- Jacques (Rue de la Viguerie), a magnificent medieval pilgrimage hospital that houses a museum of the history of medicine. Not to be missed is the intriguing Galerie Municipale du Château-d’Eau (1 Place Laganne, galeriechateaudeau.org), one of Europe’s finer photography galleries. For a strong dose of modern art, visit the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain (Les Abattoirs, 76 Allées Charles-de-Fitte, lesabattoirs.org). There’s a good café here too.

Compiled by Onnaca Heron