Toulouse’s greatest asset is its location on the River Garonne. The stately waterway bisects its city centre and is the heart of everyday life in the city. Toulouse was one of France’s most important trading cities. The old quarter is a photogenic tangle of winding lanes and part-medieval streets. The most distinctive buildings are the stately mansions, which were built by the city’s rich merchants and nobles during the 16th and 17th centuries. The city also has several impressive churches to explore, most notably the Basilique St-Sernin, built between 1080 and 1120. One of France’s finest examples of Romanesque architecture, it is constructed from rosy-red brick and graced by an elegant spire and octagonal tower. The basilica contains the bones of St-Sernin himself and was once an important stop on the medieval era’s most important pilgrimage route. Toulouse’s university was founded in 1229 and is now home to more than 100,000 students. Many of them are drawn here by the city’s illustrious engineering heritage: Toulouse is the centre of France’s aerospace industry, home to one of the world’s largest aeronautics manufacturers, Airbus, which has its main base just outside the city.

Source: Lonely Planet