A very walkable city with a spectacular Japanese garden.
I spent six weeks in the lovely medieval town of Villefranche de Rouergue, and Toulouse is the nearest large city, so it became my point of entry and departure in France.
Toulouse has ancient origins, with the first human settlements dating to the 8th century BC. The city was later developed by the Romans into the city of "Tolosa" around 52 BC, becoming a significant Roman city after Julius Caesar's conquest. The city then served as the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom and later became the chief town of the Carolingian kingdom of Aquitaine. The University of Toulouse was founded in 1229, making it one of Europe's oldest universities. So, yeah, it's old!
Modern Toulouse is very walkable, with both broad avenues and also narrow side streets and alleys. The Garonne River lies to the west, while the main train station, Toulouse Matabiau, is on the eastern side of the old city. The Canal du Midi loops around the north and east, almost creating an island on which the historic center is located.
Along the Canal du Midi is a large public park, the Jardin Compans-Caffarelli, and just adjacent is the Jardin japones Pierre-Baudis. Ever since a trip to Japan many years ago, I've loved Japanese gardens, and the garden here in Toulouse did not disappoint.
After a long stroll, it was the perfect time for a couple of Aperol spritzes at a sidewalk cafe, and then another cafe for "un hamburger et des frites."
An early flight the next morning took me to Paris, and then back to Mexico—but I look forward to visiting this town again.
