FRANCE 98 – Toulouse
A City With a Heart Founded on the banks of the Garonne River over two thousand years ago, the rose-coloured city still retains its Latin character. Neither entirely Mediterranean nor entirely oceanic, it is first and foremost a city of the “Occitan,” the region of the ancient language “langue d’Oc.” On the eve of the third millennium, its position as one of Southern Europe’s great capitals is evident, thanks to its many rich and varied assets. Pink bricks and red tiles
Aerospatiale, high tech and university campuses: looking to the future. The University of Toulouse has enjoyed a considerable reputation ever since it was founded in 1229. As the second largest university centre in France today, Toulouse attracts over 115,000 students each year and has become a European standard of reference in teaching and research. A city proud of its heritage Always looking to the future, Toulouse has also risen to the challenge by embarking on large-scale construction projects, such as its subway system, the Congress Centre, the Cité de l’Espace, the Modern and Contemporary Art Centre and the Cinémathèque, among many others bearing witness to the city’s dynamic spirit.
Organisation and hospitality Toulouse has already set the stage for the event by selecting a special team of men and women to be ambassadors of the “Toulouse spirit.” Discreet but omnipresent, they will be on hand to see to every visitor’s comfort. Criss-crossing the city on foot or on their bicycles, they are to be the city’s mobile hospitality squad. A central hospitality village is to act as a super-tourist centre, and there will be satellite information sites at the city’s main access points as well as downtown. No less than 50 “pagodas” like this are to be set up at key points throughout the city. Spotlight on the Garonne Decked out in the colours of the competing nations, its embankments will become a permanent fair ground offering gastronomical and cultural specialties from the area. River shuttles will be taking visitors to the Ile du Ramier, home to the Stadium, and further celebrations are to be staged on the water, such as “Garonna,” a huge parade whose aptly-named floats will surely inspire a great flowering of creativity and imagination. Reviving tradition with the values of FRANCE 98 |
POPULATION Inner city: 365,000 habitants Urban area: 600,000 habitants Mayor: Dominique Baudis THE CLUB Toulouse F.C. 1 French Cup TOURISM
Sites and monuments CITY LIFE
Weather MAPS |
ith its subtle marriage of stone, brick and red tile in the Capitole and Daurade quarters, its labyrinth of alleyways lined with sumptuous mansions, the cool, refreshing atmosphere of the banks of the Canal du Midi and its houseboats, and the romantic charm of the Garonne and Pont-Neuf embankments, Toulouse is a city of the open air, inviting exploration on foot.
rom the pioneers of the first Latécoere airlines, Jean Mermoz and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, to the Airbus aircraft and the Ariane rockets, Toulouse has had an important place in Europe’s aeronautical history. Through its high profile in aeronautics, electronics, space telecommunications and the biomedical industry, Toulouse is at the forefront of advanced technology and is a prominent research pool with its 400 laboratories.
oulouse is the site of unique cultural heritage, which includes the renowned Canal du Midi, built in the 17th century and linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It has recently been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Museums and galleries abound, giving visitors a glorious taste of the city’s local riches.
Toulouse in the run up to the World Cup