Is it possible to discover one of France’s biggest cities in only one day?
This means you need to walk its streets, taste its local food, visit its most iconic historical monuments… in less than 24 hours.

I decided to see how much I can enjoy Toulouse in one day and I’m quite content with everything I got to experience there. I am telling you already, the challenge is worth it.
After all, you’ve got nothing Toulouse. 🤪

These are the top 5 things I loved discovering in one of the most beautiful cities in the south of France:

• Streets

My very first impression of Toulouse is the beautiful quaint atmosphere of the streets.

Street architecture in France follows more or less the same pattern, but you’ll find lots of differences depending on the region. The narrow streets of Toulouse have their special charm and the old façades of the buildings will certainly add some magic to your walks.

• Historical monuments

If you’re a history and architecture lover, there is no shortage of places you can visit in Toulouse. You can start your journey by visiting the Saint-Étienne Cathedral.

This Romanesque gothic cathedral was built in the 11th century and it is said that its construction started in the 3rd century, when Saint Saturnin first tried to convert the Gauls to Christianity.

The gothic colors and the flamboyant (literally ‘flaming’) ornaments will leave you speechless.  

If you liked the Saint-Étienne Cathedral, there are more churches in the gothic style that you’ll absolutely adore. 

Notre-Dame de la Dalbade was built in the southern French Gothic style around the 6th century and reconstructed in the 15th century after a huge fire almost destroyed it.

It’s interesting to notice that this cathedral has fewer ornaments than the older ones, which is probably a result of the long argument between the Cathars and the Catholic Church about the simplicity of the church. The Cathars criticized the Catholic Church for its redundant elements instead of keeping the Christian faith simple. You can guess who won the argument. However, the Cathar denunciation strongly influenced the Church. 

Interestingly enough, the Monastery of the Jacobins whose construction started in the 13th century was influenced by the Southern French Gothic style as well.

The objective of the Jacobins, though, was to combat the heresy of the Cathars who dared to oppose the Church. The view from the inside is stunning as the sunlight shines through the high stained-glass windows. 

Last but not least, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin is the largest remaining Romanesque building in Europe whose construction began in the 4th century.

Millions of pilgrims heading towards Santiago de Compostela would stop and have a rest here. Next to the basilica, you’ll find the Saint-Raymond Museum, one of the oldest archeological museums in France.

• Gardens

Toulouse has wonderful public parks, such as the Botanical Garden created in the 18th century, close to the Natural History Museum.

If you like breathing some fresh air or seeing squirrels running here and there, you’ll definitely enjoy the view in the Toulousian Jardin des Plantes. 

Another great garden (for your lungs and soul!) is the Japanese Garden of Toulouse.

This garden in the style of Kyoto parks will disconnect you from the French reality for a while and bring you some exotic oriental vibes.

Located near the city center, the Japanese Garden is a great place to forget the stress of the metropolitan cities and enjoy some real zen meditation.

• The Garonne River

The Pont Neuf (‘New Bridge’ in French) is an inescapable place in Toulouse. Constructed during the Renaissance in the 16th century, it spans the Garonne River and offers an amazing sunset view.

 And yes, when the bridge is called “New” in French, it usually means that it was built more than five centuries ago. 

• Capitole

Finally, the Capitole is the heart of the city of Toulouse where the Theatre of the Capitole and the National Orchestra of Toulouse are located.

The square of the Capitole is the place where hundreds of historical events took place during Roman and medieval times. The façade of the city hall has been designed and redesigned, changing different structures and architectural styles over the years.

You can admire the neoclassical view, get the cheapest old books on the book fairs that regularly take place, and grab some delicious street food.

A day roaming around Toulouse cannot be a day wasted. Remember, here you have absolutely nothing Toulouse.