useR! 2019

Toulouse - France


user2019   Around Toulouse

Feeling adventurous? Toulouse is the gateway to the Occitanie region, an ideal starting point to discover exceptional surrounding sites.

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The tourist office of Toulouse and its partner Pays d'Oc are proposing some visits during the conference. You can find more information in these documents: tourist office (last page in English) and Pays d'Oc.

A trip in the vineyards

The Midi-Pyrenees vineyards are waiting for you! Try out a weekend in Armagnac, a holiday in the heart of the Gaillac vineyards or a tour in the surroundings of Cahors. 40 minutes away from Toulouse, you will reach the Fronton Vineyards through a lovely country road. More information and opening hours of the wine cellars are available at The Maison des Vins de Fronton Phone: +33 5 61 82 46 33

On the east of Toulouse, on the way to Albi, we invite you to drive through Rabastens, Lisle-sur-Tarn (13th century “bastide”), Gaillac and the charming villages of the Gaillac vineyards.

Cycling along the Canal du Midi

There is a cycling and rollerblading route alongside the Canal du Midi. The route is 3 metres wide with an asphalt surface almost all the way along. Starting in the centre of Toulouse, the route will lead you through the green valleys of the Lauragais district. You will see the historically famous plane trees on the banks of the Canal du Midi which unfortunately will be cut down due to sickness. Your route will also be interspersed with locks and beautiful rural villages, starting with Montgiscard, Baziège and Ayguevives. These villages are marked by Southern Gothic architectural style and feature particularly interesting bell walls. The 240 km ride from Toulouse to Lake Tahu will enable you to discover its 64 locks, 55 aqueducts, 7 canal bridges and 126 bridges.

To rent a bike: La maison du vélo, 12 boulevard Bonrepos - 31000 Toulouse (located close to the rail station). 10 euros per day from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am - 06:30 pm (except on Saturdays: 05:00 pm). The tourist office provides cycle lanes maps’ of and cycle tours of the city.

Airbus

Airbus is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft, with a 40-plus year track record of innovation, technological firsts and industry milestones. Final assembly production is based at Toulouse and you can visit factories with two options: the Airbus A380 Tour (1’30 / 15 euros) or the Panoramic tour: a bus tour with commentary through sites (1’30 / 13 euros). Tours every day except Sundays and bank holidays. Prior booking is mandatory either by phone (+33 5 34 39 42 00) or on this website.

Reservation deadline for non-EU citizens: you must book, at the latest, two full working days before the tour (working days are Monday to Friday, except public holidays). Group guided tours in English / Identity card or passport required.

How to get there: Access by tram: Line T1 Arènes / Aéroconstellation, Stop at “ANDROMEDE - LYCEE”. Departure every 8 to 10 minutes. ARENES to ANDROMEDE - LYCEE: 30 minutes by tram. ANDROMEDE - LYCEE to “Let’s visit Airbus”: 1,5 km on foot, 20 minute walk (follow signs for “Let’s visit Airbus”).

Carcassonne

The “cité” is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the “ville basse”. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the 5th century, though the Romans had fortified the settlement earlier. The fortress, which was thoroughly restored in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.

Access by train or by car: Autoroute des 2 Mers A 61, RN 113 - D 118, 100 km from Toulouse.

Boat rentals are available from Carcassonne to navigate across the Canal du Midi. More information here.

Carcassonne

Cordes sur Ciel

Located 93 Km from Toulouse, in the Tarn department, Cordes sur Ciel is an extraordinarily well-preserved town that sits high on a hilltop surrounded by Gaillac and its surrounding vineyards and Albi. Reward yourself and visit Cordes sur Ciel, discover its fascinating history and its Gothic architecture. Weekly markets are set in the lower town where you can shop fresh local fruits and vegetables, dairy products, bread, pastries, regional delicacies and numerous organic products.

Cathedral town of Albi

In 2010, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized the significant cultural importance of the Episcopal City of Albi and inscribed it to the World Heritage List as a cultural heritage site. More than 800 000 tourists visit the city each year.

The Episcopal City is situated 85 km from Toulouse. Two major medieval constructions are to be visited: Saint-Cecile Cathedral, largest brick-built cathedral in the world, and the Berbie Palace, former fortified residence of the Albi bishops, now home to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. Four medieval districts surround the cathedral: Castelviel, the ancient centre of the city, Castelnau, a picturesque district with narrow streets and half-timbered houses, the Saint-Salvi district with its 13th-century collegiate church and cloisters and the banks of the River Tarn with the Old Bridge, dating back to 1040.

Albi

Moissac

Moissac is a stop on the pilgrimage route to Campostela. You should visit the cloister, it is thought to be one of the most beautiful cloisters in the world and try some Chasselas, the local grape, which has its own AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée, or GPO)). Moissac is, unfortunately, one of the few areas of France that does not produce its own wine. Instead, the local grape is a dessert eating grape. You can reach Moissac by train from Toulouse or Montauban or travel by boat on the Canal des Deux Mers. Many boat-travellers stay in the marina which has good facilities for visitors and is within two walking minutes the city centre.

Getaways in the land of Foie Gras

Foie gras, the emblematic product of the Gers is present everywhere in this department and is France’s largest producer. No need to go far to find the best duck livers. When crossing the department boundary from Toulouse, you will find one of the biggest markets for fattened poultry: Samatan. Direct farm sales are available every Monday from 10 am onwards in summertime. We invite you to buy your products directly from the farms. Indeed, many producers live in this region and in addition to selling their products, they often offer a tour of their breeding facilities. If you wish to stay for a weekend or more, gites and self-catering cottages are welcome to visitors.

Foie gras

Narbonne

Narbonne was once a prosperous port, and a major city in Roman times, it is now located about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. 16 classified monuments, the Robine Canal a registered UNESCO world heritage site, 1 Palace - Museum, medieval religious architectures, 5 sites. A Regional Natural Park, 2 natural massifs, 2 Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées (or GPOs). Narbonne is worth it!

Narbonne

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