Do Toulouse or not?
 

Currently in planning stage for trip this fall. We will be in Amboise for a few days before taking the train to Toulouse where I've planned three nights before flying back to LHR. Now I'm wondering if Toulouse needs two and half days or any days at all. I was planning on spending a full day touring Toulouse and hoping to find a day tour that can take us to the area north of Carcassonne. I've not been getting good vibes on Toulouse. Rude taxi drivers, not all that much to see/do etc. Is there are justification for this ? I'd like to hear from anyone who has been there and get their opinions on visiting Toulouse. Other suggestions? Thanks.

I thought Toulose was a great surprise in how much it had to offer - an unGodly number of historic churches and generally a lively student town - now I would not spend 2.5 days in the city itself but IMO Toulouse is as nice as any city of this size in southern France.

I've been to Toulouse several times. It's a wonderful city and could easily consume 2.5-3 days, or more. Each time I go I like it better.

I really like Toulouse, I can't imagine where you are getting such nonsense about there being nothing much to see, as there is a lot. And what's your beef with the taxi drivers? I'm sure someone must have had a rude one in Toulouse (as if that never happened anywhere else), but I had a really nice one. You couldn't have done any research at all on Toulouse if you claim there is nothing to see or do there.

Thanks for your replies. Guess( for the first time in my travels) I was just getting the jitters.

I did not claim that I thought there was nothing there to see. In fact my reason for considering Toulouse was to visit some of its churches such as Basilique St.Sernin,the Cathedral St. Etienne and Couvent des Jacobins. I believe there are several interesting museums also. Obviously I was listening to someone who probably had little or no regard for such sites.I suspected as much but did want clarification. I have an interest in the Cathars and several years ago, spent a week visiting various Cathar castles. This was a major reason for wanting to visit Toulouse. In my research I also discovered that the Canal du Midi runs through the town. Thanks for alleviating any silly qualms.

I fell in love with Toulouse and seriously wish I'd had more than 1.5 days to visit it. There are so many things to see that IMHO deserve the time to be seen closely and without rushing! Toulouse holds some stunning churches and convents and museums and streets and waterside walks.... I would have loved to have 2.5 days there and can't imagine running out of things to see in that time.

BTW, I walked a small stretch of the Canal du Midi south of the train station, ending near the Jardin des Plantes. A few blocks were pleasant enough, but much of it was less than impressive (e.g., glimpses from an urban concrete environment down into a narrow walled channel). I thought my time could probably have been used better elsewhere. Maybe other stretches of the canal are more pleasant or interesting.

Each of the two taxi drivers I dealt with were courteous and helpful. I did find it difficult to get a taxi to take to the train station at the end of my trip, but no rudeness was at issue -- just a lack of available cabs.

Thanks kja, for the information regarding Toulouse. I'll drop a walk along the canal. After all the comments, I'm really looking forward to visiting Toulouse.

> I'll drop a walk along the canal.

Just to be clear, I only walked a part to the south of the train station. Maybe the stretch to the NW of the train station is more consistently pleasant? Someone at your hotel or the tourist info desk can probably give you good advice about which, if any, part to visit.

Enjoy!

Oops: I should have said: "I only walked a part ---OF THE CANAL DU MIDI--- to the south of the train station...."