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Perhaps to the surprise of many, Lonely Planet elected a lesser-known city in France that tourists often ignore as the best city to travel in 2025.
Not Paris and its sparkly Eiffel, Strasbourg and its Gothic cathedral, and certainly not Nice with the high life and turquoise seas.
Though it’s not on every American’s bucket list for a visit to France, Toulouse is rising fast in popularity as an alternative to the usual jam-packed tourism hotspots, and it’s not hard to see some of the reasons why:
It has a fascinating culture, with over 2,000 years of recorded History to its name, the culinary offers are some of the best in the country, and did we mention its Old Town has a pinkish hue?
Discover La Ville Rose
The capital of the southerly Occitanie region, Toulouse is an ancient settlement lining a picturesque Garonne River, and one of France’s last major cities before the border with Catalonia, in Spain, roughly 100 miles before the nearest crossing.
It’s known in France as La Ville Rose, French for ‘Pink City’, and you may be wondering why:
Well, you’ll know you’re in Toulouse when you start seeing terracotta brick-built buildings everywhere, looking a striking ocher during a sunny day, and turning a soft pastel pink in the golden hour, making for a unique cityscape.
When it comes to its credentials as a cultural treasure, Toulouse was founded at the beginning of the 1st century by the Romans, only to later become the capital of several successive kingdoms, from the Visigoth, to the Merovingian, to the Carolingian, to Aquitaine.
Needless to say, it has the architectural wealth to back it up:
Toulouse Is One Of France’s Most Historical Cities
Starting with the Romans, not much is left of the original city of Tolosa, but you can still see the ruined 1st-century amphitheater, formerly used for gladiatorial combats, and the picturesque Place Saint-Jacques, built atop a Roman enclosure.
Upon the decline of the Roman civilization, one of the first Christian basilicas in Western Europe––Saint-Sernin––was raised here, with the signature Toulouse bricks being employed in its construction as early as the 5th century.
It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site distinguished by its impressive collection of stained glass.
The Middle Ages in Toulouse was one of the city’s most emblematic, with multiple landmarks popping up almost simultaneously:
The Capitole, or City Hall, with some of the oldest parts dating back to the 12th century, the Jacobins Convent, famous for its intact cloister and inner gardens, the medieval Daurade Tower, and of course, the iconic Pont-Neuf, spanning the Garonne.
Later periods brought on Renaissance and Belle époque-issued structures, from the stately Hôtel d’Assézat to the Grand Hôtel de Dieu, a former hospital now hosting a cultural center featuring an ornamented Art Nouveau façade.
Canal Tours & Great Food
As you can see, there are plenty of manmade wonders in Toulouse to keep the culture aficionado in you entertained for days.
Now, if you’re looking for unique things to do while in town, don’t miss out on a visit to the Grand Café Le Florida, a restaurant dating back to the 19th century characterized by its timeless décor, serving delicious French pastries and coffee.
Can’t get enough of the mind-blowing History yet? One of the best ways to take in the Old World charm of Toulouse is biking along the 17th century Canal du Midi, linking the Garonne River to eh Mediterranean Sea, offering postcard-ready views along the way.
Oh, and of course, it’s not a trip to France if a food tour isn’t on the cards!
Ditch the diet and take this walking tour of Toulouse’s charming historic center, with sampling of local delicacies included, from only $51.32 per person.
Toulouse may not have made it to this list of France’s top 5 foodie destinations, but we’ll be honest with you, the slow-cooked, hearty cassoulet beats any stew you can get in Normandy, Alsatian sausages don’t stand a chance against Toulouse’s sautéed saucisse, and don’t get us started on violettes:
Sugar-coated, flower-shaped candies made with Toulouse violet, a symbol of the Pink City, it is a much-welcome treat for sweet fiends like us that can be found in any souvenir shop.
Find the complete list of best destinations to visit for 2025, as chosen by Lonely Planet, here.
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