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Toulouse
Toulouse, its name already speaks of mystery and adventure waiting to be
uncovered. Located in the southwest of France with over one million
inhabitants, it is already the fourth largest metropolitan area in France.
The city is the centre of Europe’s aerospace industry. Thus, one of the
first places to visit in Toulouse is the Cité de l'espace or better known as
City of Space; a theme park dedicated to space conquest. Space enthusiasts
should really take note of this theme park because many of its exhibits
mimic real rocket launches and satellites. Parents should also take the kids
to the theme park to ignite the excitement of space in them as it is not
only fun but also educational.
What is even more educational are the religious buildings here in Toulouse,
especially Saint-Sernin Basilica which happens to be the largest Romanesque
church in Europe. Its interior and exterior makes for beautiful
picture-taking opportunities as well as to bask in age-old architecture. The
basilica currently holds relics and bodies of saints as well! There are also
traditional pipe organs dating back to 1888, a sight not to be missed.
Dubbed as the Pink City because of its brick architecture, the buildings
here are hard not to miss. Without checking out the beautiful art galleries,
one can appreciate modern art through the graffiti on the walls of Toulouse
by famous graffiti artist, Miss Van. Her work of different female forms
expressing various emotions can be seen throughout the city. Also, if you
are a fan of writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry of 'The Little Prince' fame,
visit the Hotel du Grand Balcon where some of his work is exhibited. It is
said that the writer lived near the hotel as well.
Pay a visit to the famous boat restaurants that would not only spoil you but
also leave you wanting for more. French delicacies such as foie gras which
happens to be duck liver is popular amongst tourists who consider them a
delicious savoury dish. For dessert, Toulouse has many ice-cream parlours
and the flavours are endless. The children would definitely look forward to
this stop as in France, ice cream is taken to a whole different level.
Sorbet is a popular ice treat that is loved by the locals and foreigners
alike.
At night walking around the parks and gardens in the city seems like the
most natural thing to do. Toulouse recently incorporated a lighting plan
where buildings and monuments are lighted up to give it a new face. Taking a
boat ride along the River Garonne’s canal would have to be on the list of
things to do when in Toulouse. The city is a very family-friendly place to
go to with golf courses and theme parks abundant. Water sports are also
popular amongst the tourist with whirlpools and saunas for the family to
relax in. Take a trip to the southwest of France, this trip would definitely
be a memorable one.
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