Next stop – Toulouse.
After busy Paris Toulouse was a relief, smaller, quieter, medieval flair and very chilled atmosphere with a Harry Potter left alternative touch. Lots of small cafes and bookstores gather in the narrow streets, which is walk or cycable.
It was really nice to spend three days there, I rented a bike and explored the Place de Capitol, the sideways and a bit of St. Cypries and the Expo Mr. Freeze – another streetartfestival during my Tour de France and the Halle de la machines.
It was super super cool. Giant artworks in the peripherie of Toulouse, a former industry hall, converted to a urban art gallery from the guys from Expo Mr. Freeze. Very well curated and lots of different high quality works made you chaw dropping wandering through the place. Phantastic!
Another brilliant experience was the Halle de la Machines – a chinese mechanic dragon and a minotaurus, about 10 meters high where the attraction of this curious dream machine museum. Steam punk at it’s best for old and young ones- also some of the toddlers where very afraid of the big monsters, which I could honestly understand. But it was georgeous and the people who work at this place are supernice and very funny.
Toulouse i liked a lot because the atmosphere of the city is just so relaxed and you notice the liberal attitude of the people. Very creative as well – lots of little art shops or pop up stores a nice cinematheque, nice churches and arcades around the Capitol place.
Sleep
I stayed at a very convenient Airbnb – a bit further away from Toulouse but easily reachable by Tram T1 or T2 or by bus Nr. 66, place for 4 men and 4 women, 1 shared kitchen, bathroom and living room.
Cost 25 Eur/night
Restaurants
Cafe Fika
Culture
Halle de la Machine
Cinematheque Toulouse
Gilbert Bookstores
Streetart
Expo Mr. Freeze
Streetart-Map Toulouse
Transport
Velo Toulouse