The Cher also nearby，is a quiet，slowmoving river，flowing calmly through grassy meadows and mature forests. Here visitors will discover many interesting walks and cycle paths. It，s a good spot for birdwatching too，so don，t forget to bring your binoculars.
Places of outstanding interest include Orléans，famous for its association with Jeanne d，Arc，with a beautiful cathedral，the Musée des Beaux Arts and 16thcentury Htel de Ville；and Bourges，a 15thcentury town，complete with old houses，museums and the Cathedral of St.Etienne. The charming little town of Loches，southeast of Tours，has a fine chateau and an interesting walled medieval quarter.
It really is a great place to visit，and if you need to know more；discover it in greater detail via these guide pages before you set foot on it，s soil.
Toulouse Overview
鲜花开满图卢兹
图卢兹（Toulouse）位于地中与海大西洋海岸之间，是法国继巴黎、里昂、马赛之后的第4大城市。作为中比利牛斯地区首府和一个开满鲜花的城市，她的魅力不仅来自于丰富多彩的历史，而且在于她充满了与未来紧紧相连的活动：3所大学；25所高等专科学校；尖端的科技(空中客车工业公司、航空航天中心、国际气象中心、国家航天研究中心)，这一切都吸引着外国学生。
在中世纪，无数的诗集为图卢兹带来了文化高雅之城的盛名。而今天，20世纪初，这一传统依然没有改变：这里的文化生活内容丰富，无论你爱好的是歌剧、戏剧、电影、歌舞杂耍、绘画，还是愿意时常涉足图书馆，你都能在这里找到位置。
所有的体育项目在图卢兹都可以进行，而距城市约一百公里远的比利牛斯山脉是滑雪和远足爱好者的理想去处。在图卢兹学习，对外国学生这就意味着在一个热情好客又充满活力的城市里来提高自己的水平。
图卢兹，是个很难用几句话就能描述清楚的地方。奥克语地区的古都？法国第二大大学城？欧洲宇航中心？西南美食胜地？口音滑稽的诗人之乡？永不落日的玫瑰色之城？图卢兹是所有这些的总和，又不仅仅是这些。南方运河、橄榄球、图卢兹体育场……这既是一座历史之城又是一座新兴的城市，而这种自相矛盾恰恰成为它活力的源泉。放任自己陶醉其中吧，剩下的事情交给图卢兹……
您的参观自圣塞尔南教堂开始。这是一座罗曼艺术的杰作，也是欧洲最大的长方形教堂。“圣塞尔南教堂就像太阳浇灌下的珊瑚花照亮了整个天空”，图卢兹诗人克洛德·努加罗这样吟唱道。这座方砖和石头建成的教堂，是众多信徒朝圣的地方，其构造体现了平衡与和谐的奇迹。晚间来此参观，则会发现教堂的另一种姿态。
广场上有圣塞尔南咖啡馆，这是大学生和艺术家经常光顾的地方，在这里您可以品尝到口味极好的洋葱汤。
继续前行就到了托尔街，这里可以看到老图卢兹的典型风貌。这一带非常热闹，周围聚集了众多的大学生咖啡馆，您可以点一杯薄荷茶，在甘斯堡（Gainsbourg）的乐曲声中慢慢地体会老城特有的风味。距离不远是市图书馆和圣塞尔南中学，而全部以方砖建成的托尔圣母教堂则以其考究的装饰而着称。
Toulouse is a city in southwest France on the banks of the Garonne River，half way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. With close to 1.1 million inhabitants in 2005，the Toulouse metropolitan area is the second largest in southern France and one of the fastest growing in Europe. It is the home base of the European aerospace industry，such as Alcatel Espace and EADS Space，and hosts the headquarters of Airbus S.A.S..
Toulouse was the capital of the former province of Languedoc (provinces were abolishedabolish vt.废止，废除(法律、制度、习俗等） during the French Revolution). It is the capital of the MidiPyrénées région，the largest région in France although it encompassesencompass v.包围，环绕，包含或包括某事物 only half of the former Languedoc province. It is also the préfecture (capital) of the HauteGaronne département. It is the seat of the Académie des Jeux Floraux，the equivalent of the French Academy for the Occitanspeaking regions of southern France，making Toulouse the unofficial capital of Occitan culture. The traditional Occitan cross was adopted as the symbol of both the City of Toulouse and the newlyfounded MidiPyrénées région.
Toulouse is a good choice for a visit in this country. If you are a newcomer to the area or haven，t visited for a while，the information provided on this and related pages will prove invaluable in assisting you to make your holiday or business venture here，as simple as a stroll down your local street back home.
Toulouse is a wonderful city to visit. Situated between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic，some 456 miles from Paris，it is capital of the great MidiPyrénées region and is the 4th largest French city. A university town，Toulouse is also the home of the French aviationaviation n.飞行，航空，航空学，航空术 and space industry. Families，especially，will enjoy the wonderful museums and splendid entertainment attractions of this city.
Known as the “Ville Rose” (Pink Houses) due to the many red brick buildings erected after a terrible fire destroyed 80% of the city in 1453，it，s worth your discovery. (A law was passed encouraging citizens to use bricks instead of wood as a building material. In the nineteenth century，however，the more welltodo of Toulouse society felt the pink building material was too common.)
Inhabitants at the time whitewashedwhitewash n.石灰水，白色涂料，白粉胶泥水，涂脂抹粉 vt.用石灰水把……刷白 the facades with lime and sand to disguise the bricks as they found the reddish hue，a bit much. During this last century，however，the trend has been reversed with a resurgence of pride in the history of Toulouse. Many of the whitewashed buildings have been brushed and sandblasted to restore the charm of long ago，and to the city its identity as the “Ville Rose”.
Here everything starts with the Capitol，the very heart of the city and follows through to the north，east，south and west all the way to the city boundaries.
As the city gradually unveils its many faces，its treasures and contrasts： reminders of the past coexist with modern developments，small quiet streets with busy shopping thoroughfaresthoroughfare n.通路，大道，lively areas with dormitory suburbs，parks and interesting buildings.
There really is tons to see and do here and if you only have time to visit one city when in the country. Toulouse，certainly has a lot to offer.
One of the first places worth visiting is the arcaded place du Capitole. This still functions as the seat of local government and it，s worth popping in，if only to see the walltoceiling 19thcentury paintings，including Henri Martin，s depictiondepiction n.描写，叙述 of Toulousain life.
To the southwest lies medieval Toulouse；to the north， stands one of the city，s finest buildings，the Basilique St. Sernin，which was built over the course of three centuries.
After much of the city burned down，several local merchants built themselves elaborate private mansionsmansion n.大厦，官邸，公寓(用复数，用于专有名词中) (htels particuliers) in new Renaissance style. The Htel de Bernuy on rue Gambetta and the Htel d，Assézat were once such homes；the latter houses gems by Monet，Matisse，Pissarro and Bonnard.