1 Place du Capitole The

1 Place du Capitole The Place du Capitole is the beating heart of Toulouse. Located in this immense square is a magnificent building, remarkable for its façade with eight pink marble columns which houses the town hall and the opera house. Pop in and ogle at the Salle des Illustres with its spectacular 19th century paintings on the ceiling and walls, as well as the magnificent historical rooms of painters Jean-Paul Laurens, Henri Martin and Paul Gervais. 2 Cité de l'Espace Channel your inner spaceman and try your hand, or rather your feet, at moon walking in a moon gravity simulator at this fascinating Space City adventure park which spans an incredible 5 hectares. Gaze at the stars, climb a full-size rocket and much more in Europe’s premier astronomy and space science culture centre. Photo © Cite de l’Espace In the summer each Thursday evening, listen to the fireworks pop at Cité de l’Espace, right next to the Ariane 5 rocket. The late-night opening also allows visitors to star gaze through telescopes in the park. www.cite-espace.com

3 Reach for the sky Visit the Aeroscopia museum where you’ll discover a unique collection of more than 30 legendary planes, including two Concordes, a Super Guppy and the A400M. Toulouse is the birthplace of global civil and military aviation, and Aeroscopia perfectly represents its rich aviation heritage. This summer there’s an exhibition dedicated to the evergreen Tintin www.musee-aeroscopia.fr/en 4 Walk the Walk Get in touch with Toulouse’s secrets and take a walking tour with the tourist office to discover the city’s hidden art and architectural gems. Cross the Pont Neuf and discover the cosmopolitan district of Saint-Cyprien, a vibrant district where you’ll find the Passerelle Viguerie, a 140m long walkway above the water alongside the Hopital de la Grave, you’ll get goose bumps at the views over Toulouse. There are plenty of little restaurants with a Bohemian ambiance, a covered market and popular bars. The buzz of the town centre is a constant reminder of the exuberant life of Toulouse. Weave your way through narrow cobblestone streets and small squares to discover the Saint-Étienne quarter, brimming with secret and quirky charms. Toulouse tourist office organizes an English language city tour “Great monuments of Toulouse” every Saturday afternoon. 5 Meet & Greet Be bowled over by the Greeters tales as they take you on a tour of the city. There are 31 volunteers in Toulouse most of whom speak English and they love to share their knowledge of Toulouse in this not for profit service. toulousegreeters.fr