Toulouse Travel: France
Toulouse (pronounced /tuluz/ in standard French, /tu?luz?/ in local Toulouse accent) (Occitan: Tolosa, pronounced /tu?luz?/) is a city in southwest France on the banks of the Garonne River, half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. With a population of 1.05 million inhabitants in 2004, the Toulouse metropolitan area is the second largest in southern France and one of the fastest growing in Europe. It is the home base of the European aerospace industry, such as Alcatel Espace and EADS Space, and hosts the headquarters of Airbus S.A.S..
Toulouse was the capital of the former province of Languedoc (provinces were abolished during the French Revolution). It is the capital of the Midi-Pyrnes rgion, the largest rgion in France although it encompasses only half of the former Languedoc province. It is also the prfecture (capital) of the Haute-Garonne dpartement. It is the seat of the Acadmie des Jeux Floraux, the equivalent of the French Academy for the Occitan-speaking regions of southern France, making Toulouse the unofficial capital of Occitan culture. The traditional Occitan cross was adopted as the symbol of both the City of Toulouse and the newly-founded Midi-Pyrnes rgion.
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Albi Travel: France
Albi is a city and commune in southern France. It is the préfecture (capital) of the Tarn département, and is located on the Tarn River, 22 miles northeast of Toulouse. Population (1999): 46,274. Its inhabitants are called Albigensians (French: Albigeois). The city was founded by the Roman Empire, and was then known as Albiga. The Albigensians, 12th and 13th century heretics, got their name from this city.
Sights in Albi
Among the monuments of the town are the Sainte Cécile basilica, world largest brick construction, and the Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) still in use today after a millennium of
Carcassonne Travel: France
Carcassonne (Carcassona in Occitan) is a fortified French city, in the Aude département, of which it is the préfecture, in the former province of Languedoc. Population (1990): 44,911. It is 90 km (56 miles) south-east of Toulouse. It stands in the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central of France.
The fortified city
Eventually the fortified part of Carcassonne fell into disrepair in such an extent that the French government seriously considered that it should be demolished. A decree to that effect was made official in 1849 but it caused an uproar. Historian Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille and writer
From 1848 to 1914, the restored railway station houses the French national colletion of art. In 1986 the museum was opened which has attracted pilgrim's from for and wide who come to take in the stunning collection of Imprssionist and Post Impressionist art. The magnificient Paintings include five monet canvases of Rouen cathedral, ballet scenes by Degas, Coubet's shocking L'Origine du Monde, a hyperrealistic painting depicting a naked woman lying on her back, and works by Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir and Toulouse Lautree. This collection also contains several fine sculptures as well as examples from the Art Nouveau movement. Don't
Tourcoing Travel: France
ourcoing is a city and commune of northern France, in the Nord département, located near the cities of Lille and Roubaix and the Belgian border. Population (1999): 94,204.
Roubaix Travel: France
Roubaix is a city of northern France, in the Nord département, located near the cities of Lille and Tourcoing and the Belgian border. Population (1999): 96,984.
