Photo : Frédéric Neupont / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Toulouse
Toulouse, France's fourth-largest city with about 515,000 inhabitants, sits in a meander of the Garonne, between the Pyrenees, 122 kilometres away, and the Mediterranean, 144 kilometres away. It is nicknamed the pink city because of the terracotta brick that dominates its buildings.
Its heritage includes the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, presented as the largest Romanesque building in Europe, and the Place du Capitole, the symbolic heart of the city. The Canal du Midi, which passes through it, and the Ways of Saint James of Compostela are UNESCO World Heritage. The woad trade marked the city's history, just as violets and cassoulet mark its gourmet image today.
European capital of the aeronautics and space industry, with major Airbus activities, Toulouse also has more than 100,000 students spread over three major universities, which gives it a lively atmosphere. The Stade Toulousain rugby club has won twenty-five French championship titles there.
