Tour de France Stage 8 - Figeac to Toulouse

The Tour de France enters one of my favorite corners of France, the Midi Pyrenees Region in lovely and undiscovered Southwest France. The day ends in one of France's prettiest and more vibrant cities (that goes unvisited by hordes of tourists), Toulouse.

Here is the Tour de France description of Figeac:

Imagine a rich medieval town where the living is easy. As you take a stroll along its streets and squares, Figeac unveils its shops, homes, palaces and cityscapes from the middle ages. Hometown of Jean-François Champollion, Figeac also has an Egyptian flavor to it. As a tribute to the man who first unlocked the mystery of the hieroglyphs, the town has turned his native home into a museum, which was extended in 2007 to include the history of all written languages.

Creativity also finds its place in Figeac, whether it be hitech industries and aircraft manufacturing (propellers and flight commands for Airbus), or modern art and architecture. Joseph Kosuth’s Square of Scriptures and Mark Mimram’s walkway across the Célé are testimony to this fruitful dialogue. Tourists also flock to Figeac for its festivals: «Le Chaînon manquant » in the springtime (street theater), «Les Tréteaux de France Marcel Maréchal» in the summer (theater).

Here is the blurb on Toulouse:

Fourth largest city in France and capital of the Midi-Pyrénées region, Toulouse is very much a southern town with a Spanish flavor to it. Spanning over two thousand years, its history has brought numerous influences to its distinctively Languedoc heritage. Bidding for the 2013 European culture Capital nomination, Toulouse boasts an intense artistic and cultural life, as well as clement weather!

Every year, some 20,000 new inhabitants succumb to its many charms. Toulouse has always been at the heart of the air and space adventure, from the pioneering days of Jean Mermoz and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, to manufacturing satellites and the Airbus A380. With 90,000 students and 10,000 scientists, Toulouse leads the way in hi-tech industries, most notably nanotechnology, biotechnology, on-board electronics and health care with the Cancéropole.

Find out more about the Tour de France: Tour de France 2008

Find out more about the route: Toulouse Travel Guide | Midi Pyrenees Region | Southwest France

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_{Photos of Figeac (top) and Toulouse, copyright Tour de France.}