Toulouse: Walking through history

The starting point of the tour, Place du Capitole, is the heart of Toulouse. Lively and vibrant, it offers travelers an array of attractions and activities. You can admire the beauty of its red-brick buildings, tour the elegant courtyard hidden behind the impressive 18-century facade of the Capitol; visit the Salle des Illustres - a richly decorated gallery with its marble staircase, painted ceilings, wall murals and sculpture; browse the adjacent cobble-stoned streets or drink an aperitif on a cafe terrace. There are millions things to see and to do!

This beautiful basilica is one of the largest romanesque churches in the Western hemisphere and definitely one of the most beautiful ones. Constructed of pink brick and white lime stone between the 11th and the 14th centuries, it was an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in Northern Spain. The church has a five-tiered bell tower, a circular apse with ambulatory and radiating chapels, decorated with carved heads of humans and fantastic beasts, a marble tympanum depicting the Ascension of Christ, an impressive barrel-vaulted nave and four side aisles, the tribunes and a magnificent organ, constructed in 1888. For travelers fascinated by Medieval art and architecture, it is absolutely worth a visit.

Built in the 13th-14th centuries by the Dominican monastic order in the aftermath of Cathar Crusade, the church of the Jacobins is a splendid example of the southern Gothic architecture. Its austere exterior presents a striking contrast with the interior featuring a superb palm-tree vaulted ceiling, an ensemble of stained glass windows, a magnificent cloister and elegantly decorated chapels. The highlight of the church is the relics of Thomas Aquinas also known as "Doctor Angelicus". "The most saintly of learned men and the most learned of saints", he was one of the greatest theologians in the history of the Catholic Church.

A promenade along the banks of the Garonne river is a pleasant and relaxing experience that allows you to explore the city glorious past, to see some interesting monuments and to admire beautiful vies of the river and its bridges. You can visit the 19-th century Daurade church, take photos from the oldest bridge of Toulouse - Pont Neuf Bridge, an excellent viewpoint to see the ancient Hôtel-Dieu hospital) and the La Grave dome.

This splendid French Renaissance mansion was built in the 16th century for Pierre Assezat, a wealthy merchant in pastel (blue dye) trade. Step into the magnificent cobbled courtyard hidden behind the ornate facade to admire a splendid Italian-style loggia, an upper gallery that connects two wings of the mansion, richly decorated doors and windows, and an octagonal brick tower with two terraces and a lantern on the top. Today the mansion houses six academies including the Académie des Jeux Floraux, founded in 1323 to revive the Troubadour poetic tradition. Its main attraction however is the Bemberg foundation created by Argentinian bibliophile, collector and art patron George Bemberg. His personal collection carefully assembled over the course of his life and donated to the city of Toulouse comprises masterpieces of European art, from the 15th to the 20th century, books, Italian and French furniture, and decorative art objects. A jewel! The museum visit is not included in the tour and can be organized at your request.