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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JUNE 2017 41 Toulouse Why go? Known as "la ville rose" life is rosy in Toulouse. The city is constructed from pink bricks that glow in this sunny corner of south-west France. Surrounded on all sides by water, the city's cobbled streets weave their way down to the River Garonne where locals sun themselves in summer. Despite being France's fourth largest city, Toulouse has the feel- ing of an overgrown village with sausages sizzling on street corners and the best cassoulet and foie gras served in every café. What to do? For a cultural fix visit Basilique Saint-Sernin, the largest surviv- ing Romanesque church in the world. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, it was an essential stopping point on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route. A typically Romanesque church the bell tower had two levels add- ed when a neighbouring church built a tower taller than the one at Basilique Saint Sernin. The ex- tra two levels, built in a different era, were built in Gothic style. Inside lies the tomb of St Sat- urnin (Sernin), whose act of mar- tyrdom was to be tied to a bull and dragged through the streets. The grandeur of Saint Sernin is amplified by the simplicity of the Jacobin Convent. The Do- minicans built the church in the 13th and 14th century to show that a place of worship need not be extravagant, and used a sim- ple double-nave structure. The brick building is built in South- ern France Gothic style with red bricks and stained glass windows. The palm tree, the most famous ribbed vaults in the church are reflected in a mirror at the foot of the column, making visitors feel like they are looking into an empty swimming pool. The Place du Capitole is the heart of the city. Its square is dominated but the city hall, dis- playing paintings by Toulouse- born artist Henri Martin in its grand chambers. The square is often the site of exhibitions and youngster gathering for demon- strations. Surrounded by trendy cafes, this is a great spot to sit and grab a coffee and watch the world go by. Explore the boulevards that snake out from the square and wander towards the river. Hire a bike and cycle through the city's cycle points and along the Garonne banks lined with food, art and craft stalls at the weekend. The Pont Neuf links the two banks of the river. The oldest bridge in Toulouse, built in the 16th century, has remained erect through some of Toulouse's worst floods due to large over- flow holes that remove pressure from the bridge when the Ga- ronne is swollen. Travel How to get there Air France and Air Malta operate regular services between Malta and Toulouse. Flights departing from Malta on 5 July and returning on 9 July on Air France were priced at €413.66 including tax, while flight on the same dates on Air Malta were priced at €463.73. La vie en rose Place du Capitole is the heart of the city, with bustling cafes surrounding the town hall which dominates the square The pink bricks give the sunny city of Toulouse a pink glow which is why the city is known as "la ville rose" The oldest bridge in Toulouse, the Pont Neuf has survived years of Toulouse's worst floods as a result of the overflow holes within its structure Jacobin convent – The vaulted ceilings at the Jacobin convent built by the Dominican monks Though the bell tower of the Basilique Saint Sernin is typically Romanesque, the two topmost levels were built during the gothic era – in a gothic style to keep the tower the highest in the city.