L'envol des Pionniers

L'envol des Pionniers museum Musee des Augustins, Toulouse Back outside I wander amongst rockets and moon buggies, and get a taste of an astronaut’s environment inside a space station module. It’s cosy but not all bad, given the selection of vacuum-packed food on display, including a portion of my favourite Confit de Canard, cooked up by the Souillac Hotel School in Lot! If you have time to spare, head to nearby Montaudran where L’Envol des Pionniers –Flight of the Pioneers – celebrates the early years of the French air postal service in the former workshops beside the historic runway. Discover the pioneers of Aéropostale and legendary pilots such as Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz and Guillaumet who flew over deserts, mountains and oceans to deliver mail. And you may spot the resident Minotaur who lives next door! With a second evening to indulge myself in Toulouse’s varied restaurant scene, I walk through the vast Capitole Square and soak up the atmosphere of this popular meeting place over an al fresco apéro the arcades. Then it’s time to head to Molette, a block back from the banks of the Garonne, for my dinner reservation. The name Molette comes from the colloquial word for a good friend and this cosy little restaurant serves hearty homemade dishes Minotaur in Toulouse! from seasonal local produce designed to satisfy the appetite of a bear, hence their ursine logo. I’m one of the first to arrive as doors open but within minutes, every table is taken. And it’s not long before I find out why. Their signature dish of Mountain Pork with Thyme melts in the mouth, so I obediently make like a bear and devour every last bit, followed by a decadent giant profiterole with caramel sauce. Then I head out into the warm evening to stroll amongst the locals on the quayside as darkness falls over this beguiling city. Next morning, with a few hours to fill before I fly home, there is just time to take in one of the city’s most historic buildings before it closes for major refurbishment. Due to reopen in Autumn 2025, Le Musée des Augustins is home to one of the city’s leading art collections, atmospherically displayed in a 14 th century monastery. Don’t miss it if you’re travelling to Toulouse next year. Later, at the airport, I buy a lunchtime sandwich to eat mid-air. I can’t help wishing I was having Confit de Canard instead, but preferably not in a space capsule. Give me that Concorde silver service any day! Listen to the most beautiful French songs on your mobile, Smart TV, Radioline, TuneIn etc. parischanson.fr 84 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 85