CHECK OUT MY VIDEO ON TOULOUSE:

WHERE IS TOULOUSE?

4th largest city in France, capital of the region of Occitania in the south of France. It is known as “The Pink City” for the bricks that built many of its buildings.

To 4 hours from Barcelona, Spain.

And 1hr and 20 of Carcassonne (the famous medieval city)

INDEX:

• HISTORY OF TOULOUSE
  • Ancient age
  • Average age
  • Modern age
  • Contemporary age
• Places to visit – what To See In Toulouse
• Tour recommended Toulouse
• Where to stay in Toulouse
• Tomi Tips
• How to go from Carcassonne and Barcelona to Toulouse
• Cuisine of Toulouse

TOULOUSE, HER STORY:

OLD AGE:

Toulouse it owes its name to the aquitanos, who already lived in the the EIGHTH century A. C. Although its meaning is unknown, the name has not changed.

After the the III century A. C. the celtic tribes-gallic (From Belgium) the volcos tectosages settled in the fertile lands near the river Garonne and the gold and silver mines made of Toulouse, a city rich. 

It was the year 125 A. C the romans arrived. Rose a oppidum (strength) to the north of the city, and finally to the 106 A. C, Tolosa became a roman colony to thrive thanks to exchanges of goods that arrived from Hispania and the Mediterranean. 

The new town did boast of high walls on all sides. Project emperor Augustus between the 10 and 30 D. C Toulouse became a civitas of the Galia Narbonense. It also gained the status honorific of ‘Palladia’ and was famous for their aqueducts, theaters, and baths. It was the fourth largest city of the Roman Empireafter Rome, Arles, and Treves. 

In the century III, Saturnino, the first bishop of Toulouse, founded a christian community. Refused to participate in a pagan ritual, was arrested and chained to a bull which dragged him all over the city. His martyrdom contributed in this way to the beginning of christianity in Toulouse. Already in the century V he built a basilica in the place of the tomb of the martyr, which became a place of pilgrimage, which today is the Basilica of St. Sernin.

Roman rule ended when the visigoths first with the king Ataúlfo and then with Walia ibex became Toulouse in capital " Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse ". The 418 the 507 it was a vast kingdom that stretched from the Loire to Gibraltar. But in the battle of Vouillé in the 507, the frankish king Clovis I had a fight hand to hand with the visigoth king Alaric II. Both kings were fighting on horseback, when Clovis came out the victor to kill his enemy. The visigoths without their king, lost to Toulouse and the greater part of the south of what is now France. Managed to keep the Septimania thanks to the intervention of the Ostrogoths of Theodoric the Great.

MIDDLE AGE:

Toulouse became the capital of the kingdom franco Aquitaine. In 721the duke Odo of Aquitaine he defeated a army muslim umayyad invader in the battle of Toulouse. Many historians consider the victory of Odo was the real stop of the expansion of the muslim-christian Europe, even more important than that of Charles Martel in Poitiers years later.

In 1096, Raymond IV, count of Toulouse, he set out with his army to the call of the pope Urban II to join the First Crusade, of which he was one of the main leaders. Their conquests led to the creation of the county of Tripoli with their descendants. 

In the XII century the notables of Toulouse created a municipal body of consuls, called capitouls to lead the city and to gain greater autonomy. Already in 1190the capitouls were built and the extraordinary city called Capitole, that was remodelandose with the passage of time.

At the beginning of the THIRTEENTH centuryarrived the albigensian crusade. The reason was the catharism in the south of France, the pope Innocent III I wanted to exterminate the entire. (I talk about this conflict also in the video I made of Carcassonne). In addition, he was created the Dominican Order in 1215 by the presbyter Spanish Domingo de Guzman. Its members made a vow of poverty and preached the christian faith to the local population trying to convert the cathars. The order gained more and more importance: in 1229 it was decided the construction of the Convent of the Jacobins and in the same year, he founded the University of Toulouseone of the oldest in Europe. The result end of this genocide, religious was the loss of all the huge county of Toulouse, which was annexed to the domain of the king of France in 1271. 

January 28 1369, the mortal remains of the philosopher and christian theologian Thomas Aquinas they were transferred to Toulouse. The saint had died almost a century ago in Italy and was part of The Order of Friars Preachers (The Dominican Order).

MODERN AGE

Two major fires destroyed much of the city in 1463, and in 1672. As a result we chose to use more brick in its reconstruction, which was to deepen the touch characteristic rosa de Tolosa. 

In the FIFTEENTH century, the king Charles VII established in Toulouse in the second parliament of France after Paris. Reinforcing its place as an administrative center, the city was enriched, engaged in the trade of Bordeaux wine with England, as well as cereals and textiles. 

When you reach the Renaissance in SIXTEENTH century, Toulouse is enriched thanks to the trade of the glasto (“cake” in French), a blue dye obtained by the european textile industry. Such fortune was the origin of several of the proud hôtels particuliers (mansions) renaissance de Toulouse.

In 1544 construction began on the Pont Neuf and in 1667: the Canal du Midi. It is a waterway that, from more than 300 years ago, connects Toulouse with the Mediterranean Sea. Designed Pierre Paul Riquet to facilitate the transit of goods. The canal was opened in 1681 with Pierre died a year before. His remains are in the the cathedral of Saint-Étiennebut the boats are still navigating the waters of your channel.

CONTEMPORARY:

The French Revolution marked the end of power in parliament. You chose the first mayor of the city. Toulouse became the capital of the department of the Haute-Garonne. The industrial revolution driving the growth of the city and quickly placed it as the most important city of the region. It was transformed and embellished to give it its current appearance.

His time was the scene of the last battle of the War of Independence, taken by the troops of the anglo-Spanish-Portuguese of the general lord Wellington, Luis Wimphen and Miguel de Álava the April 12, 1814.

In the the TWENTIETH century, Tolosa had the luck to not be the scene of fighting during the World War Iil. At the beginning of the year 1960many repatriates from Algeria were installed in this city, contributing to the strong increase in population, which increased from 269.000 inhabitants in 1954 to 380,000 in 1968.

The city saw the introduction of large companies aeronautical. Toulouse forged an identity in and around the area of aeronautics and space.

Everything else you can see yourself walking through these beautiful streets, without a doubt 1 day will not be enough.

SITES TO VISIT / WHAT TO SEE IN TOULOUSE

Click on the names of the places to see their location on Google Maps.

This is a place that you do I add because I'm always struck by the character of Joan Of Arc. And while I don't have memories of that she has walked in Toulouse, this shows that she is still a heroine national recognition for all of France. Since I haven't been able to go to Orleans, the honré in Toulouse 🙂

The current basilica, a masterpiece of romanesque art, began in the ELEVENTH century. It is now one of the largest churches in Europe. In the interior of the basilica is the guardian of the relics of San Saturnino. This is also an important stage on the Road to Santiago de Compostela.

This interesting roman period may be reviewed by visiting the musée Saint-Raymond. In the Pink City we walk through the ancient cardo maximum of the roman city, the axis north, south, walking through the streets of Saint-Rome and Filatiers. In the neighborhood of Purpan, there are vestiges of an amphitheatre and thermal baths where we noticed that the brick was the main element of the buildings. I remember to have been more than 10 min outside of the museum analyzing whether to enter or not, they had no much time... and I didn't 🙁

TOUR RECOMMENDED

While it is fairly large city (The 4th largest in France), with 1 day you can walk around the historic center walking. I can't really remember where I left the Bla Bla Car exactly, but I'm almost sure that it was at the train station and buses “Toulouse Matabiau”. And from there walk to the centre was super nice ride. In the image I show you how you're just a 17-minute walk from the Capitol squarethe center of the city.

FREE WALKING TOURS RECOMMENDED:

WHERE TO STAY IN TOULOUSE?

Well I stayed in Carcassonne, not in Toulouse, in Le Couvent Hostel 4 nights for a total of $127USD / $122,40€ that is 30,6€ by night. It is located in the bastide de San Luisvery close to the stop of the Flixbus and train station. At 1hr and 20 minutes from Toulouse.

They are very good facilities! With room for 4 people with bathroom incubated or 2 people with private bathroom in the hall (I could see I). They have a restaurant very nice but did not have breakfast. I was able to ask for water for mate 🧉 and were always very attentive and with a smile. Due to the extreme cold, and any failure of your heating, I went from the room of 4 to 2 (in both I was alone). Fortunately there was more cushioned and we sobreellevar the cold. I was given a birra 🍺 during the match of Brazil for the world cup (for the inconvenience). And as they do not have towelsyou sell them for 4€ (a small) that still have it and use it in my travel ja!

Of course there are other options if your budget is more bulky or if you don't want to hostels.

TOMI TIPS

-I honestly didn't have much time in the city, there were only 5 hours and I tried to see it all what more could a light step. What gives me the chance to tell you that with that time they can do a lot. Toulouse has a particular charm and unique that you'll notice when you walk the city.

-All churches are free and allow you to take pictures and videos. At least for the places that I was able to walk I have not found ancient ruins of the roman, visigothic, or frank (early). Are most of all the churches of the middle ages for the centuries-X to XV about the style, and could be called as a city of the age moderna since it is not so medieval, since its elegance has led her to be more moderna. In that sense, for a lover of the archaeological sites, is a bit disappointing. Although there is as I mention above, there are a few (and I lost). But I also couldn't get into the museums where you possibly would have compensated for this lack that is in the streets.

-What we do I was pleasantly surprised is the social life that you havethe streets were exploited people enjoying the wonderful centre and pedestrian streets. I found it super cool that even though logic, because it is the 4taa largest city of France 🙂 capitol Square and its surroundings are fantastic!

-If you're going in the winter abrigate a blast!!! I went during the month of December 2022 was very fresh.

HOW TO GO FROM CARCASSONNE TO TOULOUSE MODE (LOW COST)

Well, these small holidays made with base in Carcassonne, while living in Barcelona. So I'm going to tell you for if you decide to do the same: How to go from CARCASSONNE TO TOULOUSE.

What I did on Saturday 03/12/22 the way in Bla Bla Car and I got a 12€. Coming to the 9.50 and arriving 11am to Toulouse. If you don't know what that is Bla Bla Car here I leave a video where I explain it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLNnRvuAA70&t=1s 

I remind you that the public transportation was on strike (Yes! In Europe these things happen and it seems in France quite often!), therefore there were not many more options. But on a normal day the train would be the best option. To the back I took a FlixBus. https://www.flixbus.es/  If you did not know about the company bus european cheaper that exists and goes pretty well almost all the major cities of Europe. Tend to have prices from 5€ for sections that quietly you would charge 30€. It is ALWAYS my first choice for analysis. The return was to 17.20 from Toulouse and arrived at 18.35 to Carcassonne by 6.99€ (If cheaper than the Bla Bla Car!!!) and I came just to see the second Round match between Argentina and Australia (which we won!). 

IF YOU ARE IN BARCELONA AND WANT TO GO DIRECT TO TOULOUSE, YOU CAN! The solution is to Flixbus also and apparently it's the same bus that goes to Carcassonne. That is to say, it is by the same route. Going to stop in Carcassonne and then will continue to Toulouse. And it is also very cheap. Remember you have checked this option and I believe that it was possible to go and come in the day (Although I would recommend staying at least 1 night! because they are 4hs travel). I did base in Carcassonne for 4 nights and from there I went and I came to: Toulouse, Narbonne and Nimes.

GASTRONOMY MODE (LOW COST)

I was in Capitol square with such fair, large and very nice all; when I ordered my friend Sheba Molds who decides what food should I choose for my lunch. Since my budget was not large and the offer was very varied in this show; and he well knowledgeable of the area without hesitation I said: “Aligot”. It turned out to be puree with cheesea portion somewhat humble (and expensive), and I was left with a hunger barbarian haha. Previously, Sheba, had told me that Toulouse was as Silver (the Capital of the province of Bs As, Arg), if you know both cities you know very well that I had to be suspicious of their advice after a similar comparison. Well, minutes after eating the Aligot I started to make my own decisions (even if Sheba love it so much! ha!)