Toulouse is the 4th largest city in all of France, after Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. As of 2020, it was home to approximating 1,500,000 inhabitants. Located in the southwest in the region of Occitanie, on its own, Toulouse has a lively character, but it’s also close to the Pyrenees and the coast – making it an even more brilliant place to purchase a home in.

What can I expect weather wise?

cafes in Toulouse

Toulouse is perfect for cafe life.

Being in the southwest of the country, Toulouse enjoys warmer weather for longer. May through to October see temperatures in the low twenties at least, with the weather reaching 30°C in July and August. Rainy days generally happen in the cooler months. More often than not, it’s the ideal weather for sitting outside at a café, sipping on lemonade.

The journey

Easily enough, Toulouse is served by Toulouse airport. By car, Toulouse airport is around half an hour from the city centre. However, the airport has a tram, bus, and shuttle services to get you there – so if you are thinking of not owning a car in France, it is very workable. Flights run from the UK to Toulouse all year round. A flight from London to Toulouse will take you just under two hours. Alternatively, with prices starting at €14, you can get a train from Paris to Toulouse in a smidgen more than four hours – it might be worth the beautiful sight-seeing.

Space!

Aeroscopia museum

Aeroscopia museum.

Perhaps Toulouse’s most stand-out characteristic is that it is the French capital of aviation and space. There’s the Aeroscopia Museum, which has its own Concorde simulator for you to have a fly in. There’s also Cité de l’Espac space theme park with its IMAX 3D cinema letting you into the solar system. Okay, it is unlikely that you will be visiting a space museum or theme park every day, but if you are moving to France with young children (or space enthusiastic adults), this might just be the way to convince them of move. We’re off to live in the space capital – sounds thrilling, right?

Cultural highlights

 Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse

Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse.

Some of us are just total city dwellers. We love visiting museums, galleries, and finding bizarre-looking statues. If that’s you, then Toulouse will be a great fit. For something historical and impressive, there’s the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, built in the 11 th and 13th centuries, it was on part of a medieval pilgrimage route to Spain. Today, it stands mightily in Toulouse, as one of the largest Romanesque churches in Europe still in existence. Art lovers will be drawn to The Musée des Augustins, which showcases a fantastic display of art from the medieval period right up to the 1940s. Other cultural fascinations include Musée Saint-Raymond (a museum on archaeology) and Fondation Bemberg (a museum of fine and decorative arts). This really isn’t the end of the list either, so with a property in Toulouse, you will have lots of exploring waiting just outside your doorstep.

 

You can count on Toulouse for food

fresh vegetables and fruit

Deliciously fresh!

With twenty-five restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide, its fair to say that Toulouse has a firm status as a foodie haven. One such restaurant is Michel Sarran, named after the chef and Toulouse native, which has two stars. While meals like these are there for special occasions, even Toulouse’s markets are wonderful. There are three essential markets in the city, with Les Halles Victor-Hugo being the largest, it explodes with rich tastes and scents. Furthermore, Toulouse also has a growing vegan and vegetarian scene – so if there is a vegan amongst you, they won’t go hungry here.

 

Be at the Pyrenees in under three hours

Pyenees

The beautiful Pyrenees.

If you are fond of skiing but would rather live somewhere with more going on than just skiing, then Toulouse could be perfect for you. By car, the stunning Pyrenees is just under three hours away, so you’ll be able to make the most of it during the chiller months. The largest ski resort is Domaine du Tourmalet. Additionally, the Pyrenees is an excellent spot for walking and immersing yourself in nature – so, if you are ever after a weekend away from Toulouse, the Pyrenees is just a drive away.

 

For an added bonus, Toulouse is just under two hours away from the sea.

 

Property

You can find a one-bedroom apartment in Toulouse for a little under €100,000. If you are looking for a family home of three-bedrooms or more, then you will need at least €200,000. We have many wonderful properties in Toulouse listed.

 

Are you thinking of purchasing a property in France? Click here to read our guide.  

Do you have a property that you would like to advertise with us? Click here to do so.