Toulouse

Location:

Toulouse is the capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region and is located on the banks of the Garonne river.

Access information (rail, train, air, sea):

• Aer Lingus provides a non- stop flight service from Dublin airport to Toulouse airport
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, BMI, British Airways and Lufthansa all provide a one-stop flight service from Dublin Airport to Toulouse airport

Size/population:

In 2007 the population of Toulouse was 1,117,00

Climate:

The winters are mild, the summers are long and hot, the autumns are calm, sunny and fruitful.

Economy:

Aviation industry is an essential part of the Toulouse economy (Toulouse is the home city of Airbus Industrie) but is by no means the only high tech industry located there. The city has become Europe's leading space centre with CNES (French Space Agency), Matra Marconi Space, Alcatel Space Industry and Spot Image among o thers, all with their head offices around Toulouse.

The region encounters exceptionnally dynamic population growth, with a growth rate that has double in comparison with the national average for the past 6 years.

Toulouse-Blagnac airport is the 5th largest passenger traffic airport in France. Moreover Toulouse, popularly referred as "the pink city", is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in France.

Summer festivals:

Like many o ther French cities, Toulouse celebrates festivals throughout the year. To witness such an event, with the electric and ecstatic atmosphere, would be a remarkable and unforgettable experience.

Public transport:

In addition to an extensive bus system, Toulouse has a modern metro system. The VAL (Véhicule Automatique Léger) metro system is made up of driverless (automatic) rubber-tired trains.

Unusual facts or sights in the area:

The lighting plan:

Inaugurated on 19th November 2004, the Lighting Plan is an ambitious, original project. It uses the latest lighting technology to give Toulouse a new night-time face, enhancing the beauty and variety of its heritage: a graphic staging of the city, its districts, bridges and monuments. Toulouse, pink city by day, city of light by night.
The lighting is designed to highlight the wealth of detail on each building and as you walk around the city, offers a new way of looking at its architecture. As night falls, historic monuments, modern architecture, districts and rivers are transformed into tableaux that combine to create a monumental urban fresco.

Museums:

• The centre for graphic art
• The museum of medicine
• The museum of old Toulouse
• The saint-Raymond museum