Christmas (“Noël”) in Toulouse is flashy but warm. The streets are decorated with beautiful lights that accentuate buildings with pinkish terracotta bricks. The colour that has earned Toulouse the nickname La Ville Rose (“The Pink City”).

The city is teeming with life. The streets, squares and shops are full of cheerful people. The city’s main square “Place du Capitole” is transformed into a charming Christmas market. It’s a place where you can find all the different stuff or stop to refresh with some local delicacies and top off with a glass of Mulled Wine (“Vin Chaud”).

Not that you need to warm up with the wine, as the temperatures can be quite Mediterranean. At the time I was there it felt like springtime. Once you finish with the market and enchanting Old quarter you should pay a visit to the banks of the Garonne river. There you can admire the beautiful bridges and Dôme de la Grave, amongst other sites.

This shouldn’t be the end of your exploration. Toulouse is the fourth-largest city in France and a capital of the region Occitanie. It is also the center of the European aerospace industry and Airbus. Beyond its charming centre there is so much to see, discover and feel.

A short back story on my fascination

Christmas for the majority of the globe is one of the most cherished of holidays. France and Toulouse are no different. This was my first contact with Christmas anywhere outside Serbia and its spirit left me with awe. In Serbia religious things were and still are quite different due to political reasons in the second half of the 20th century.

On a different note, I hold a special bond with France, their language that I’ve (unsuccessfully?) tried to master over the years. I am fascinated by the history, culture, architecture, daily lives and habits, food culture… so many different things.

This short gallery is one of many that will pop up on my blog. I am trying not to be overwhelming, but I should post more.

What do you think?