City choice: Toulouse: Hotel Le Capoul

Leafy promenades along the canal du Midi, ornate 17C gardens Romanesque chruches, Renaissance merchant houses, Roman amphitheatre Ultramoders Cite de l'Espace museum

About Toulouse
In the shadow of the Pyrenees, where the meandering River Garonne meets the majestic Canal du Midi, the pink-roofed city (La Ville Rose) of Toulouse is firmly part of the South. Here you’ll find leafy promenades, ornate public gardens and a convivial café scene basking in a year-round Mediterranean climate. There is a healthy mix of old and new here too: the ultra-modern Cite de l’Espace (which brought us Concorde and, more recently, the design for the first-ever 800+ passenger aircraft) stands happily alongside pretty Romanesque churches, Renaissance merchants’ houses and impressive Roman amphitheatre.

Hotel Le Capoul

This *** elegant and modern hotel is in an excellent position right in the heart of Toulouse. It’s just a 5 minutes stroll to La Capitole, the main square where you’ll find the attractive 18th century town hall and opera house. Its centrepiece is its glass-covered atrium where you can relax at the piano bar. The stylish rooms have en-suite facilities, satellite TV and direct dial telephone.