Alice World Travels

I love solo travelling. For further-flung trips, nothing else beats the freedom of it. But when I was planning a short and sweet weekend away in what’s known as ‘The Pink City’, I thought I had nothing Toulouse, and so I invited my best friend along to explore with me.

Now that we’ve got that cringy pun out of the way, let me tell you about my weekend in this gorgeous city in the south of France.

With a flight of only 1.5 hours from Heathrow, Heidi and I hopped aboard and landed in Toulouse on Saturday morning, ready to explore after a quick nap on the plane.

We had two nights at Sangha Hotel, a wonderful and fairly new 3-star hotel dedicated to wellness. With a zen-inspired space alongside treatment rooms, the hotel offers yoga, gentle gymnastics, dance and more. Sangha also provides yoga brunches and activities on their stunning rooftop, including Japanese-style painting classes.

Located in the heart of the La Cartoucherie eco-district of Toulouse, we found it to be a relaxing and ideal base in which to explore this energetic city. A classic double or twin room costs from £79 per night, and I would highly recommend staying here if visiting Toulouse so that you can enjoy a part of the city that’s outside of the centre.

So what is there to do in one weekend?

Explore its pink-tinged buildings

There is a reason why Toulouse is called ‘La Ville Rose’, or ‘The Pink City’. From the imposing Capitole and the sprawling Couvent des Jacobins, to smaller, quaint backstreets lined with rows of terracotta houses, you won’t stroll for long without coming across a rose-tinted view of the city.

Visit the Jardin Japonais in Compans-Caffarelli

A new local living in Toulouse gave me some tips of where to visit, and he mentioned the Jardin Japonais (Japanese Garden) which can be found in the heart of the Compans-Caffarelli Park. If you step slightly away from the centre of the city you will encounter this gorgeous park which is next to the Canal du Midi, home to a beautiful Japanese garden. Created in 1981 and modelled after the gardens of Kyoto, its main feature is a prominent red bridge over a serene koi pond. The garden was beautiful in the autumnal sun, and I enjoyed watching crisp, orange leaves fall beside scuttering red squirrels, which I last saw about 17 years ago in Poland.

Go to the food hall in La Cartoucherie

The La Cartoucherie area is not only home to the Sangha Hotel, but also a wonderful food hall, Les Halles de la Cartoucherie. Housed in a high-ceilinged building which was a formal industrial factory, it now features a vibrant food market with stalls serving anything from croissants and coffee to West African cuisine. Alongside food, it also houses cultural events, a coworking space and classes such as yoga and dance.

Take photos by the Place de Saint-Pierre

One of the iconic views in Toulouse can be had by the Place de Saint-Pierre. Located next to the Garonne River, we enjoyed an autumnal river stroll from our hotel to the centre, stopping off to take in the lively atmosphere of localsand tourists alike sitting on the steps leading down to the river in this charming area. You’ll probably want to take a few photos of this view too, before delving deep into the meandering streets behind you.

Have a crepe at Le Sherpa

We didn’t have a plan for Toulouse, and sometimes it’s best that way. Strolling through the buzzing streets and stopping off at places that piqued our interest was ideal for us in this short break, instead of rushing around ticking off boxes. Upon one such stroll, we stumbled upon Le Sherpa creperie on one of the narrow, winding streets of the old town. With cosy, worn, red velvet booths and quirky paintings adorning the walls, the creperie serves both savoury and sweet crepes. We opted for a couple of sweet ones and I can certainly vouch for the chocolate and banana!

Go inside the Basilique de Saint-Sernin

The Basilique de Saint-Sernin is one of the most impressive churches I have ever explored. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, we sort of stumbled upon the church as well, although the expansive building with its Romanesque and Gothic bell tower is difficult to miss. I enjoyed visiting the 11-13th century basilica with its large vaulted naves and interesting crypt, and as one of the largest Romanesque buildings in the western world, it shouldn’t be missed if you’re on a break in Toulouse.

Words and photos by Alice Bzowska (photo of me by Heidi).