he city of Toulouse, located on the Garonne plain in the heart of southwest France, halfway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, has grown more significant today than it has been for centuries. Since 2016, this fourth-largest French city has served as the capital of “Occitanie,” France’s second-largest region. Occitanie stretches from the Rhône River in the east to within about 60 miles of the Atlantic in the west, closely mirroring the historic County of Toulouse. From the 9th to the late 13th century, the County of Toulouse was a prominent independent territory in southwest France.

Initially governed by the Counts of Toulouse, the city transitioned in the 12th century to a council-led administration known as the “Capitulaires.” This council met in the Capitole, a building near what is now the city’s centerpiece, the grand Place du Capitole—one of the finest urban plazas in the world.

Why is Toulouse called The Pink City

In French, it’s known as La Ville Rose, an expression that captures the unique color of the city’s architecture. Although “pink city” doesn’t quite convey the true character of Toulouse, a more accurate description might be “the redbrick city”—since rose refers to the warm, pinkish-red hue of its traditional bricks. Unlike the red bricks of 19th-century industrial cities, Toulouse’s bricks are made from the reddish alluvial clay of the Garonne River, a tradition dating back to Roman times. This creates a pink-red tone similar to the Mediterranean’s iconic roof tiles, infused with the warmth of southern Europe.

In Toulouse and its surrounding areas, red brick has been the customary building material for centuries, lending the city its unique color and nickname. Toulouse stands out as the only major historic city in France, aside from some industrial cities in the north, where brick has traditionally rivaled stone as a dominant material in architecture.

What to do in Toulouse

Exhibitions, concerts, festivals… the Ville Rose is constantly buzzing with activity! And for food lovers, there’s always a new restaurant to try. Take your time wandering through the narrow streets and squares of the city center to soak up the welcoming vibe of this southern city, where terrace cafés come alive at any hour. From the banks of the Garonne to historic landmarks, from the Cité de l’Espace to Airbus, Toulouse is full of surprises waiting to be discovered.