10 fun facts about Toulouse!

Toulouse is a city in south-west France, capital of the Haute-Garonne département and the Occitanie region. Situated on the banks of the Garonne river, it has a rich history stretching from antiquity to the present day. The town is renowned for its Romanesque architecture, historic churches and gastronomic specialities. France's fourth-largest city combines history, culture and technology. Its world-renowned aerospace industry and local cuisine make it an attractive destination. But, do you know these 10 fun facts about the pink city? 🌷

🏞️ Toulouse is nicknamed the "Pink City" because of its local terracotta brick buildings. 

💧 The "Le Griffoul" fountain in Place St-Etienne originally had 4 Manneken-Pis from which the water flowed. Following protests, they were replaced by 4 cherubs, from which the water now flows. 

👻 A neo-Gothic house in the Allées Paul-Feuga is said to be haunted by the model murdered by the painter Henri Rachou, whose paintings adorn the Capitole. 

🍽️ Toulouse's gastronomy is renowned for its traditional dishes such as cassoulet and Toulouse sausage. 

✈️ As an aerospace centre, Toulouse is home to Airbus, one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers. 

🏛️ Founded in 1229, the University of Toulouse is one of the oldest in Europe. 

📍 The dots next to the numbers on the city gates were landmarks for the illiterate engravers of the time. 

🛤️ Toulouse has one street with a fictitious general's name that is the result of a transcription error: "Marshal Clabel" actually comes from "Mal Clabel" which means "badly paved" in Occitan. 

🌳 The Jardin des Plantes in Toulouse is one of the oldest botanical gardens in France. 

🏴‍☠️ There is said to be a cursed treasure buried beneath the Basilica of Saint-Sernin. It is said to be buried to protect the inhabitants from the curse that accompanies it.