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Perhaps to the surprise of many, Lonely Planet chosen a lesser-known city in France that tourists often ignore as the best city to travel in 2025.
Not Paris with its sparkling Eiffel, Strasbourg and its Gothic cathedral, and certainly not Nice with the good life and the turquoise sea.
While it’s not on every American’s bucket list for visiting France, Toulouse is rapidly rising in popularity as an alternative to the usual overcrowded tourist hotspots, and it’s not hard to think of some reasons why:
It has a fascinating culture, with more than 2,000 years of history to its name, its culinary offerings are among the best in the country, and did we mention that the Old Town is a shade of rose?
Discover LaVille Rose
Toulouse is the capital of the southern Occitanie region an old settlement along a picturesque river Garonne, and one of France’s last major cities before the border with Catalonia, in Spain, about 100 miles before the nearest border crossing.
In France it is known as LaVille RoseFrench for ‘Pink City’, and you might wonder why:
Well, you know you’re in Toulouse when you see terracotta brick buildings everywhere, which look strikingly ocher on a sunny day, and turns soft pastel pink in the golden hourwhich creates a unique cityscape.
When it comes to its reputation as a cultural treasure, Toulouse was founded by the Romans at the beginning of the 1st century, later to become the capital of several successive kingdoms, from the Visigothic, the Merovingian, the Carolingian to Aquitaine. .
Needless to say, it has the architectural wealth to back it up:
Toulouse is one of the most historic cities in France
Starting with the Romans, there’s not much left of the original city of Tolosa, but you can still see the ruined first-century amphitheater, once used for gladiatorial combat, and the picturesque Place Saint-Jacques, built atop a Roman fence.
After the decline of Roman civilization, one of the first Christian basilicas in Western Europe – Saint-Sernin – was built here, with the characteristic Toulouse bricks being used in the construction as early as the 5th century.
It is now one UNESCO World Heritage Site is distinguished by its impressive collection of stained glass windows.
The Middle Ages in Toulouse were one of the city’s most emblematic, with multiple landmarks emerging almost simultaneously:
The Capitole, or town hall, with some of the oldest parts date from the 12th century, the Jacobin Monastery, famous for its intact cloister and courtyard gardens, the medieval Daurade Tower and of course the iconic Pont-Neuf, which spans the Garonne.
Later periods brought Renaissance and Belle Epoque structures, from the stately Hôtel d’Assézat to the Grand Hôtel de Dieu, a former hospital that now houses a cultural center with a decorated Art Nouveau facade.
Cruises and delicious food
As you can see, there are enough man-made wonders in Toulouse to keep the culture vulture in you entertained for days.
If you’re looking for unique things to do while you’re in town, don’t miss a visit to the Grand Café Le Florida, a restaurant that dates back to the 19th century characterized by its timeless designserving delicious French pastries and coffee.
Can’t get enough of the stunning history? One of the best ways to take in the Old World charm of Toulouse is to cycle along the 17th-century Canal du Midi, which connects the Garonne River to the Mediterranean Sea and offers postcard-like views along the way.
Oh, and of course it’s not a trip to France if a food tour isn’t planned!
Ditch the diet and take this walking tour through the charming historic center of Toulouseincluding tastings of local delicacies, from just $51.32 per person.
Toulouse may not be on this list of France’s top 5 foodie destinations, but we’ll be honest with you, the slow-cooked, savory cassoulet beats any stew you can get in Normandy, Alsatian sausages don’t stand a chance against the sautéed Toulouse sauceand don’t get us started on it violets:
Sugar-coated, flower-shaped candies made with Toulouse violet, a symbol of the Pink City, it is a very welcome treat for sweet devils like us that can be found in any souvenir shop.
Find the full list of best destinations to visit for 2025, as chosen by Lonely Planet, here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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