Oh, the places you'll go!

…And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent
guaranteed.)

• Departing Toulouse, the Canal du Midi towpath once featured a full leafy tunnel of plane trees. Since 2006, chancre coloré disease has killed most of these historic trees on the Toulouse–Castelnaudary section. Replanting is improving each year, but shade is intermittent. Carry sun protection and extra water from Toulouse.

  Grand civic square framed by pink brick arcades, heart of Toulouse’s daily life.

• Basilica of Saint-Sernin

  Romanesque pilgrimage church, UNESCO-listed, with octagonal tower and historic Camino significance.

Tonight: Toulouse

Toulouse, known as “La Ville Rose” for its terracotta brick architecture, has long been a center of culture and innovation. Once a powerful medieval city-state, it later became pivotal in the aerospace industry, home to Airbus headquarters. The Basilica of Saint-Sernin anchors its Romanesque legacy, while lively squares reflect a youthful student population. Toulouse balances deep Occitan heritage with modern dynamism, making it one of France’s most distinctive and economically important regional capitals.