Next stop is the massive Jacobins Convent. To be fair it is not the most beautiful building from the outside. Don’t let this put you off because this severe brick built block is extraordinarily light inside with massive pillars and palm-tree-like ribs reaching huge heights. The cloisters are a welcome cool place to rest up from the heat of the city.
There is so much more to see on this walk but rather than listen to me - go there and follow in my footsteps - you won’t be disappointed.
Place St Georges is one of the locals’ favourite squares in the city, ringed with cafés and restaurants. It is the perfect place to spend a relaxing evening watching the world go about its business. You couldn’t do much better than head to Monsieur Georges for a tasty dinner. The duck profiteroles are divine, washed down with a glass of perfectly chilled rosé.
There are lots of hotels in Toulouse to suit all budgets. Many hotels get full during the week out of season with business folks visiting the aerospace and aviation industries but being empty at weekends, they offer some great deals.
Toulouse is the sort of place where you can leave your maps and guide books, GPS and phone in your hotel room and dive into the city and got lost in its streets. There are shops to suit all tastes, great cafés and restaurants to fit all budgets, food markets and even a man-made beach on the banks of the Garonne. There really is something for everyone in this fabulous city.
Leave room in your suitcase to take home some Toulouse specialities - saucissons, tins of cassoulets and other French gourmet delights.