Typical Toulouse ...

La ville Rose, or the Pink City. Known for its Red terracotta brick work,  Toulouse has an amazing Style of brick laying. Thin bricks and often intermingled with rock but overwhelmingly terracotta in colour and the City is adorned with magnificent buildings, I had forgotten how old the city is.

Above is the Basilica of St Sernin (I think he was the first martyred priest in something like the year 300). But the funniest thing was to see Baby Jesus missing to only be replaced by a can of Red Bull in the crib of the Basilica's Nativity scene.  

Part of the University

Inside the Basilica

St Jeanne d'Arc church. 

The Jeanne d'Arc was very austere, as was the Basilica, compared to the churches in Italy. The pipe organ (Toulouse is known also as the pipe organ capital of Europe) in Jeanne d'Arc was impressive and being played when we visited.

More of the Rose terracotta in Capitole  de Toulouse. A large central square lined with restaurants and shops and used for all sorts of events. At this time of year it is completely given over to a huge Christmas Market with food stalls selling all sorts such as Aligot (a creamy garlicky cheesy mash potato), Toulouse sausage in bread with onions and cheese, truffade (another chunky potato cheesy garlicky delight) and mulled wine and the largest Pane d'epices (ginger bread), the size of foot stool.

The same square lit up like a Christmas tree, literally. 

The children with Santa at the Christmas Market. Ollie with his mulled wine. 

The Garonne River flows through the centre of Toulouse and has some of the oldest buildings lining its Banks. The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge and has withstood centuries of traffic.

This is old. Even before bricks. 

Beautiful reflections of Pont Neuf. 

An attempt at panorama.