Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Previous issues for Toulouse

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France : Toulouse - May 2010

Country Code: Dial for France

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).

LES CARMES/ESQUIROL/CAPITOLE

Head to the heart of Toulouse, with the handsome city hall, the magnificent colonnaded Capitole square and the surrounding parks and streets.

Sleep soundly – The Mercure Saint Georges (Rue Saint Jérome, tel. , accorhotels.com, rooms from €79) is the official partner for the Festival de BD, as well as being well-priced and central. Hotel la Garonne (22 Descente de la Halle-aux-Poissons, tel. , hotelgaronne.com, rooms from €170) is a more elegant option close to the beautiful Pont Neuf and the nightlife of St Cyprien.

Culture vultures – Comic-fest Festival de BD (Place du Capitole, festival-bdtoulouse. com) takes place 7-9 May. Among other entertainments, there’ll be a live re-enactment of a popular French graphic tale and drawing workshops for kids. Or La Garonne Expose (Place de la Daurade to Pont Neuf) is an outdoor show of contemporary paintings on the riverbank every weekend. More of a traditionalist? The Musée des Augustins (21 Rue de Metz) houses fine art in a 14th-century convent.

Must eat – Le Bon Vivre (15b Place Wilson, tel. ) is a jolly place to enjoy local specialities such as foie gras and magret de canard in the heart of town.

Shop til you drop – Head for the Place Dupuy on a Friday and spend some time exploring the large selection of shops and stalls selling locally made arts and crafts.

STATION

The area around Toulouse’s main railway station, the Gare Matabiau, is a surprising hive of trendy shops and stylish cafés.

Must eat – Yassa Fast Food (1 Boulevard Bonrepos, tel. , yassafastfood.com), has brought an informal but authentic taste of West Africa to Toulouse.

Must drink – Le Café Populaire (9 Rue de la Colombette) bills itself as ‘young, festive and affordable’. It certainly lives up to its name – it’s often very busy – so get there early.

Shop til you drop – The Rue de la Colombette is full of happening boutiques. Check out the jewellery at Les Maris Jaloux (12), and the retro décor at Entre Hier et Aujourd’hui .

ST CYPRIEN

This bohemian neighbourhood across the river from the main part of town is an art-lover’s delight, as it hides a warren of bars, clubs and galleries in its narrow lanes.

Culture vultures – A perfect time to visit Toulouse’s modern art museum Les Abattoirs (76 Allée Charles-de-Fitte), which was once a slaughterhouse, would be on the Nuit des Musées on 15 May. You can loiter among the art until late in the evening and then plunge straight into the local nightlife.

Must eat – Bento Box (5 Place Roguet, tel. ), is the place to enjoy a Japanese lunch box after taking in some dance or theatre at the Hôtel Dieu, where the annual L’Instant Japon festival is held every May.

Must drink – Le Petit Diable (99 Allée Charles-de-Fitte) offers much more than a cocktail on most nights – you could stumble on tango, cabaret or impromptu theatre. The Skybar (1 Place Intérieure St Cyprien) is a trendy alternative that also offers themed nights, as does Vasco Le Gamma (1 Place de l’Estrapade).

CITÉ DE L’ESPACE

The space adventure park on the outskirts of the city is one of Toulouse’s unique attractions. Come for the day and see what else the area has to offer.

Culture vultures – In the park itself, don’t miss the replica Russian Mir Space Station with its Soyuz simulator and the life-size Ariane rocket-launcher. You can also relive the moon walk on a giant six-storey IMAX screen.

Must eat – Le Metropolitan (2 Place Auguste Albert, tel. ) offers sophisticated, Michelin-starred fare within a 10-minute stroll of the park. Pricey at dinner, but more affordable for lunch.

Compiled by Anthea Gerrie