Toulouse Local Custom Tips by mikey_e Top 5 Page for this destination

Fine Art in Toulouse

Toulouse is probably best known for its leadership in aerospace studies and the aerospace industry, but that is not to say that the city does not have a creative side. Indeed, all you have to do is marvel at the architecture and monuments of the city centre to get a sense of just how impressive the artistic temperament of the city’s residents is. The Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain also gives you an idea of that tradition, with several very interesting outdoor mosaics that can be admired (free of charge) in the courtyard outside of the museum.

Saturday Market

Lots of cities still have market days, and in Toulouse Saturday happens to be the day when farmers and other gather in the Place du Capitole to sell their wares. This isn't really a farmers' market in the sense that you can only purchase edible goods. On the southern part of the Place you will find all the delectable edibles - baked goods, fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, olives, sweets and the like. As I was staying in a hotel, I didn't buy anything that needed to be prepared, but the baked goods were to die for.

The northern side of the square hosts all the non-edible stalls, which are, of course, dominated by booksellers. There are a few people who come in to sell things related to home repairs or cheap clothes, but your best bet is actually with the booksellers. I picked up a few cheap paperbacks to tide me over from Toulouse to Barcelona - including Rivières pourpres, an excellent book, but it scared me out of sleeping from San Sebastian through to Barcelona. In general, a great way to replenish your physical and intellectual energy before heading off to more siteseeing in Toulouse.

The Occitan Language

For those who speak French, it will be apparent (maybe not immediately) that the name of the region of which Toulouse is the capital - Langue d'Oc - means Language of "Oc". The indigenous language of Toulouse, Occitan, was once widely spoken throughout southern France and, in the 12th and 13th centuries, was the language of a vibrant poetic tradition that influenced much of Western Europe. Occitan was surpressed after the French Revolution in favour of French, but the rapid decline did not come about till the last century, as mass communication, urbanization and improved national education combined deal a near-fatal blow to the language. Despite the fact that many people no longer use the language as a daily tool of communication, it is undergoing a renaissance, and more young people are learning it. It is also used with greater frequency in the media, schools and universities, and, as you can see, it is also used on bilingual street signs in Toulouse. Occitan is a romance language that is closest to Catalan (not French) and that has numerous regional varieties, of which Provençal is one. Lenguadocien, spoken around Toulouse, is the medial dialect. Its name comes from "òc", which means "yes" - the Romans had no specific word for yes, so the romance languages had to make up their own. The Franks came up with "oïl" (later "oui") from hoc ille, while the Occitans used "òc". Books in and on Occitan can be bought at most major bookstores in Toulouse.