Quoi faire à Toulouse? 2
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TOULOUSE On Monday you will have the afternoon off after the opening ceremony of ESOF. So, quoi faire à Toulouse? From the river Garonne to the Canal du Midi, listed as an UNESCO World Heritage; From the Natural History Museum to the Capitole; Or from the 30 markets to the six Michelin stars restaurants, Toulouse has a lot to offer! Thus, we have put together a couple of ideas and recommendations of what to do in Toulouse. Further, you will find info about the costs of tram/bus tickets. Please note that this information may change in the course of the coming weeks. Additionally, we advise you to gather some information about what you would like to see or visit in Toulouse. There is no better way of getting to know a city or country by doing some research about its very special spots to discover. (1) PARKS AND GARDENS JARDIN DES PLANTES JARDIN DU MUSÉE GEORGES LABIT JARDIN DU GRAND ROND (2) MONUMENTS LE CAPITOLE HOTEL DE VILLE MARCHÉ VICTOR HUGO CITÉ DE L ESPACE (3) MUSEUMS MUSÉE DES AUGUSTINS MUSÉE DE TOULOUSE (NATURAL HISTORY) MUSÉE DÉPARTEMENTAL DE LA RÉSISTANCE ET DE LA DÉPORTATION 1
PARKS AND GARDENS On warm days, which may occur in Toulouse during summer time, it might be nice to spend some time in a park or on the banks of the Garonne. Did you know that it rises in the Spanish central Pyrenees and flows into the Atlantic by way of the estuary called the Gironde? The following list presents some Gardens within walking distance to our accommodation. JARDIN DES PLANTES 31 Allée Jule Guesde, 31400 Toulouse Created at the time of the French Revolution, this is the oldest public park in Toulouse. A Mecca of botany with nearly one hundred species of deciduous trees and conifers and is right next door to the new Natural History museum. JARDIN DU MUSÉE GEORGE LABIT 17 Rue du Japon, 31400 Toulouse This museum is located next to the Canal du Midi with an exotic and Mediterranean garden and has the name of its founder, Georges Labit (1862-1899). He put together two magnificent collections: one of Asian art, the other of Egyptian antiques. JARDIN DU GRAND ROND Rond-point Boulingrin, 1000 Toulouse An exceptional garden for relaxation. Plants, lime trees, cedars... and also superb mosaics making this park's garden one of the most colourful of Toulouse. 2
MONUMENTS Toulouse is located at the heart of Southwestern France, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. La ville rose with its unique rich history, features a joyful combination of heritage and art de vivre. So, if you have an hour or two to spare during your stay, visit the city with this mini guide of must-sees and sights to enjoy! LE PLACE DU CAPITOLE The Place du Capitole (1848) is one of the central squares in the city of Toulouse. Some even say that it is the beating heart of the city. The square is notable for its Occitan cross that stands tall in its centre. Since Antiquity, this square has been a bustling crossroad for communities living in the area. MARCHÉ VICTOR HUGO Marché Victor Hugo, Place Victor Hugo, 31000 Toulouse This place is like a foodie paradise! Even though there are five restaurants on the upper floor, it is much more fun to buy oysters and charcuterie from a stall. Toulouse has further covered markets, but none is like Marché Victor Hugo. CITÉ DE L ESPACE Avenue Jean Gonord, 31500 Toulouse Anyone who is interested in space travel should not miss this sprawling futuristic park (a half-hour bus ride from the centre). It reflects the importance of Toulouse in the European Aerospace industry. MUSÉE 3
MUSEUMS From breathtaking art to historical features, there are many museums in Toulouse that are worth a visit. We have put together a selection of three of the most interesting museums to discover. MUSÉE DES AUGUSTINS 21 Rue de Metz, 31000 Toulouse The musée des Augustins is one of the country s oldest museums (1795). It has an eclectic collection ranging from Rubens to Toulouse-Lautrec, who by the way was born in nearby Albi. FYI: The medieval cloister and garden are especially magical, surrounded by salons filled with evocative statues and sculptures. MUSÉE DE TOULOUSE / Natural History Museum 35 Allées Jules Guesde, 31000 Toulouse This is a place to discover and wonder! The Natural history museum in Toulouse is one of the second biggest natural history museums in France. While strolling through the hall ways you will walk past fossilized wonders, and many specimens of animals and artefacts. Here you can learn about planet Earth s history and its rich past and present biodiversity. LE MONUMENT DE GLOIRE DE LA RÉSISTANCE 52 Allée des Demoiselles, 31400 Toulouse This museum was founded by volunteers. It retraces the history of French Résistance & the deportations beginning with the advent of fascism in 1922, and of Nazism in 1933. The exhibition of permanent collection includes: objects, photographs, arms, arm-bands, flags and clothing. 4
Information France an overview Official name: French Republic Political system: Constitutional republic Head of state: President Emmanuel Macron (since 14 May 2017) Capital city: Paris (2,206,488 (2015) inhabitants) Population: 67,201,000 (2017 estimate) Currency: Euro (EUR) Geography, Economy and Weather Most of France s borders are roughly delineated by natural boundaries and geographic features: to the south-west, south and south-east, the Pyrenees, the Jura, the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea; to the east the Rhine river; to the north the North Sea; to the northwest the English Channel and to the west the Atlantic Ocean. France also includes several oversea regions across the world. France has a large tourism industry, as it is the most visited destination in the world. Additionally, Paris is the capital of the fashion industry, which also contributes to economic growth. Government and Politics France is a unitary state, but its administrative subdivisions regions, departments and communes have various legal functions, and the national government is prohibited from intruding into their normal operations. The political system of France is a hybrid presidential/parliamentary system with a President (Emmanuel Macron) who is head of state, sharing power with a Prime Minister (Édouard Philippe) who is the head of government. Since May 2017, the Government has consisted of many parties, but the strongest ones are La République En Marche! initiated by President Macron and The Republicans (in the parliamentary right). Culture and Food French cuisine is among the most celebrated on Earth and French culinary customs hold fascination for lifestyle observers too. There is a convivial nature around the entire process, with high importance placed on shopping for the best ingredients, planning the menu, and sitting down at the prescribed hour to enjoy it together with family. Bread, cheese and wine are three specialty items which are essential to the culture and traditions of French food. Together, they make the perfect, affordable lunch to enjoy. 5
Short French Travel Dictionary Hello Salut! Welcome Bienvenue! Good day Bonjour! See you! Au revoir! Yes Oui No Non Thanks! Merci! You re welcome! Je vous en prie! Excuse me, Pardon/ Excusezmoi, My name is... Je m appelle I am from... Je suis/viens de I would like... J'aimerais... How are you? Ça va? I do not understand. Je (ne) comprends (pas). I do not speak French. Je ne parle pas francais. Numbers: 1 un 6 six 2 deux 7 sept 3 trois 8 huif 4 quatre 9 neuf 5 cinq 10 dix Attention! Help me! Police Ambulance Attention! Aidez-moi! Police Ambulance 6
Public Transportation Tram Single Ticket: 1,60 10 Trips Ticket: 13,40 1 Day Ticket: 6,00 Single Airport Ticket: 8,00 Further information can be found here. 7