A pleasant thing to do in Toulouse is to take a cruise on the Garonne River — even though there is hardly anything to see from the boat.
The river boat “Aladine 2”
The boats leave from Quai de la Daurade, and there is a ticket booth by the dock on Place de la Daurade. In the summer of 2014, I paid 8 Euros for a one hour and ten-minute cruise. They usually run six of these cruises per day in the summer months.
On the river boat
Since Toulouse is in a wide valley with no hills near the river, there is not much in the way of scenery to look at. So this cruise is very different from the river cruise in Besançon, where you have nice views of the hills and especially Vauban’s citadel.
Also the main buildings of Toulouse are not visible from the river, so it’s not like a river cruise in Pariswhere you see a succession of architectural masterpieces on both river banks.
To make up for this lack of interesting sights, the crew of the “Aladine 2” went all out to provide us with an entertaining narration. There were three of them, two men and a woman, and they took turns telling us all about what we were seeing, or not seeing, and I must say they succeeded in squeezing every drop of significance out of the actually quite insignificant places along the river banks.
The narration is in French, but they offer printed summaries in English, Spanish, Italian and German that you can ask for on boarding. (Not that anyone did this, as far as I noticed.)
In the locks
For those of us who don’t do it very often, it is fun to go through the locks which raise or lower the water level. Note that there are some people up on the bridge who have gotten off their bicycles and are watching us go through the locks.
Lowering the roof
Since there is a low bridge across this set of locks, the boat is equipped with an adjustable canvas roof that can be lowered to allow the boat to squeeze through. During a rain shower earlier in the day, some water had collected on the roof, so when they lowered it the water splashed out onto the people sitting in the first row. The rest of us found this quite funny, though I suppose they didn’t.
Opening of the locks
Here the locks are opening to let us out into the next section of the river.
Notre Dame de la Daurade
Behind these trees is a church called Notre Dame de la Daurade, though of course we couldn’t see much of it because of the trees.
Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf in Toulouse
In Toulouse — as in Paris — the oldest bridge in the city is called Pont Neuf, which means “New Bridge”.
The Pont Neuf in Toulouse was begun earlier but finished later than its namesake in Paris. They started building the one in Toulouse in 1544 but didn’t finish until eighty-eight years later in 1632.
Pont Neuf in Toulouse
What both of these “New Bridges” have in common is that they were built to last. They were constructed in such a sturdy way that they have survived numerous floods over the centuries. That’s why they both still exist and are now the oldest bridges in their respective cities.
Location, aerial view and photo of Pont Neuf in Toulouse on monumentum.fr.
Toulouse Plages
Dancing at Toulouse Plages
Since Paris has been so successful with Paris Plages (Paris Beaches) every summer since 2002, a number of other French cities have started doing similar programs to offer events and activities for people who have to (or choose to) stay in the city during the summer holidays.
Toulouse Plages on the banks of the Garonne River was started in the summer of 2003 by a socialist mayor, and has been continued by conservative and socialist mayors ever since. As the local newspaper La Dépêche commented: “Mayors come and go, Toulouse Plages remains.”
Dancing at Toulouse Plages
When I was there in the summer of 2014, the most popular attraction seemed to be this outdoor dance floor (in the shade of some trees) at a riverside park called La Daurade.
My photos in this post are from 2014. I revised the text in 2019.
Next: Bookshops in Toulouse.
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FAQs
With two days in Toulouse, you'll have enough time to sample local culture and discover the city's atmospheric neighborhoods and museums. Plan ahead to maximize your time, look for tours that visit multiple attractions, and invest in a 24- or 48-hour Toulouse Pass to save on admission fees.
What is the Garonne river known for? ›
The Garonne river allows vessels coming from the ocean to reach the port of Bordeaux, and it also forms part of the Canal des Deux Mers, linking the mediterranean sea to the Bay of Biscay thus allowing a shorter and safer way for goods to pass from the agricultural areas of the south of France to the Atlantic.
What is the main river in Toulouse? ›
The Garonne is… a river that rises in the Pyrenees, and flows through Toulouse, before throwing itself into the Atlantic. A wide, substantial river, that flows right through the heart of the city. It's also the place to be, the place to take your time… and enjoy a spot of sun-bathing!
Which direction does the Garonne river flow? ›
Formed by two headstreams in the Maladeta Massif (mountainous mass) in the Aragon region of northeast Spain, which flow from glaciers situated at elevations of more than 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), the Garonne flows north for 30 miles (48 km) through Spanish territory, traversing the high mountain Val d'Aran through a ...
What to avoid in Toulouse? ›
What are the good and bad neighborhoods of Toulouse, France? That depends what you mean by good or bad, and it is also up to your budget. If by good you mean safe, I would recommend you to avoid the neighborhooda of le Mirail, la Farouette, les Isards, Bagatelle.
What is the best time of the year to visit Toulouse? ›
The peak season is June–August when you can expect higher hotel rates and more crowds. If you plan to visit Toulouse around this time of the year, it's best to book far ahead. The best times to visit Toulouse are in May and September–October, just before the peak season kicks in, and in autumn.
Is the Garonne river clean? ›
The river is actually brown more or less 365 days per year! The colour is the end-result of a natural phenomenon. To keep things simple, the fresh water (that flows in the Garonne from its source) is laden with sediment (mainly clay).
Why is the Garonne river so brown? ›
Why is the Garonne River brown? By converging with the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers to create Europe's largest estuary, the salty Atlantic seawater turns the tides on the river's clay sediment to create a cloudy ochre-colored appearance.
What is Toulouse famous for? ›
Settled on the banks of the Garonne River since the Iron Age, the Old Town at its heart is home to many museums and historical religious buildings. Toulouse is very famous for its food, including specialities such as cassoulet and foie gras that you can sample in many restaurants in the city centre.
What does Toulouse mean in English? ›
Definitions of Toulouse. noun. a city on the Garonne River in southern France to the southeast of Bordeaux; a cultural center of medieval Europe. example of: city, metropolis, urban center. a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts.
Canoeing on the Garonne, Ariège or the Canal du Midi
In the surrounding rivers, swimming is also prohibited because the bottom can drop suddenly and reach a depth of 3 to 4 meters in places.
What are people from Toulouse called? ›
For more information, visit the Toulouse Tourist Office at www.toulouse-visit.com. City region: Occitanie. Population & what they are called: 466,297 inhabitants (2014 census), called Toulousain.
What is the meaning of Garonne? ›
Definitions of Garonne. noun. a river that rises in the Pyrenees and flows northwest to the Bay of Biscay.
How long is the river Garonne? ›
It is one of the longest rivers in France, flowing for approximately 575 kilometers from its source in the central Spanish Pyrenees to Bec d'Ambes, where it meets the Dordogne River to form the Gironde estuary. The river is approximately 602 kilometers long from its source to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean.
How many days do you need to visit Toulouse? ›
It has some interesting activities and attractions. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the relaxed city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to four days to fully enjoy the city.
Is Toulouse worth visiting? ›
Let us answer this question immediately — yes, Toulouse is absolutely worth visiting! Now, you may think we're biased, but there's a long history behind that short answer. Jessica, the founder of Taste of Toulouse, fell in love with the city on her first visit and soon made it her adopted home.
Is Toulouse a walkable city? ›
Toulouse possesses excellent public transport options, is great for cyclists, and is very walkable, making it a great French destination for travelers.
Is there a lot to do in Toulouse? ›
Top Attractions in Toulouse
Romanesque cathedral featuring impressive architecture, an array of sculptures, and an organ that fills the space with captivating music. Visitors can explore a museum and a serene garden nearby. Historic municipal building surrounded by a lively plaza with dining and shopping.
