One year ago this month I returned to the U.S. after traveling for 2.5 weeks in Switzerland and France. I started off in the French area of Switzerland for three days (photos
here), then toured around the southeast of France (photos
here). In this thread I’m posting photos I took in Southwest France, which included visits to Montpellier, Palavas-les-Flots (Mediterranean beach resort next to Montpellier), Carcassonne, and Toulouse (home of Airbus).
Montpellier
1. I very much enjoyed my 1.5 day visit to Montpelier. Love the old historic core but it’s also a very lively energetic city with a large university student population.
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35. The main train station in Montpellier, with various trams passing by out front.
Palavas-les-Flots
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45. Dinner with a view of the Mediterranean.
Toulouse
46. The next morning I took the train from Montpellier to Toulouse. Here is the arrival at the main train station in Toulouse.
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51. Toulouse is known for its pink terracotta brick architecture. It’s a very pretty city!
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80. There is a new subway line under construction in this area (ligne C), which will connect with/provide a transfer option to the existing François Verdier Metro station on ligne B.
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Carcassonne
86. Carcassonne train station.
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89. Arriving at the old fortified city, an UNESCO world heritage site.
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101. Classic view of the old fortified city and Pont Vieux (old bridge) over the Aude River.
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103. Heading into the “newer” village - Ville Basse - outside the old fortified section. The new village is still old, dating between 1300-1500 AD.
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107. Making my way to the train station to head back to Toulouse.
Toulouse
108. Back in Toulouse.
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111. Love seeing artists around the city inspired by the beautiful architecture to sketch and paint scenes!
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124. Taking the Metro from Jean Jaures station to Arènes station to catch a tram to the Aeroscopia (Airbus/Aviation museum).
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128. Arriving via Metro at the Arènes station. Need to catch a tram aboveground.
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131. Here comes the tram (ligne T1)!
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133. Arriving at Beauzelle station
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136. Arriving at the Musée Aeroscopia.
137. Go figure I haven’t yet been to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center here in the DC area near Dulles (which houses various aircraft and spacecraft).
138. First into the Concorde
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141. Next up, a tour inside the A380.
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149. And that’s all from Toulouse. I walked to the train station early the next morning to head to Paris.
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Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my visit to Southwest France! I concluded my time in France with six nights in Paris (photos
here).
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