10 Best Museums in Toulouse

Cité de l'Espace, or Space City, is a discovery center focusing on the history of spaceflight where you can learn all about the history of space travel and the universe. Inside the facility, you can explore full-scale models of several space modules and even a replica of the Ariane 5 rocket that towers at a height of 55 meters.

This museum showcases the extensive history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the formation of our solar system billions of years afterward. A planetarium and an IMAX movie theater can also be found here. It's all available just south of Parc de la Grande Plaine on the east side of the city.

Aéroscopia is an aviation and aerospace museum where you'll find entertaining and interactive exhibits, including legendary aircraft and themed spaces. Quite a few different aircraft are on display, such as the Concorde, the Caravelle, the Super Guppy and even an A300B.

When you visit this museum, you'll find several activities available as well, like taking part in airplane construction or trying out a behind-the-scenes flight experience. The experience can be guided or independent depending on your preference. It's all available northwest of the city centre near Zac Andromede.

The Muséum de Toulouse is a natural history museum where you'll find a collection of more than 2.5 million items, with some dating back to the formation of Earth. The permanent exhibition here is divided into 5 themes, including planetary power, life, history, how life works and the impact of humans.

Many of the artifacts on display here originate from France, though you'll find some artifacts from all over the world. Among these relics, you'll find neolithic axes, tombs and even a necklace from the Bronze Age. You can get to it all in northern Le Busca, just south of the city centre.

Les Abattoirs is an art museum that also hosts numerous performances, concerts and screenings, among other forms of creative works. The art on display at this museum is notably modern, dating from just after the Second World War to the present day.

Be sure to check the calendar before you go to see what kind of events are being held at the museum during your vacation visit. These temporary exhibitions may never show up again, so you won't want to miss out on the unforgettable experience. It's all located in northwestern Saint-Cyprien, across the river from the city centre.

The Museum of Old Toulouse (Musée du Vieux Toulouse) is a museum that showcases the history of Toulouse dating back to antiquity. In the exhibition rooms, you'll find quite a few artifacts and displays with remnants from times past to discover.

The museum tends to focus on the people who lived in the city more than anything else. That means many of the displays host everyday items like cookware, clothing and other similar objects. See it all for yourself right near the city centre in a big Renaissance-style mansion.

Augustins Museum (Musée des Augustins) is a fine-art museum that's home to a plethora of pieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, including paintings and sculptures. While you'll find a wide variety of works, Romanesque sculpture is especially prominent in the collection.

When you visit this museum, you'll find some works that are famous around the world. These include works by Philippe de Champaigne, Louise Moillon, Nicolas Tournier, Gabriel Guay and Maurice Denis. You can see it all for yourself in the city centre just east of the Esquirol metro station.

Georges Bemberg’s Foundation (Fondation Georges Bemberg) is an art gallery where you can see the personal collection of Georges Bemberg, which includes more than just paintings. A lot of the collection consists of 19th- and 20th-century French paintings, but that's just the beginning.

Exploring this museum will give you access to Venetian works from as far back as the 16th century, along with ancient books and furniture. Some of the artists on display here include Pierre Bonnard, Pablo Picasso, Pieter de Hooch, Francois Clouet and Eugene Boudin. It's all located near the city centre just west of the Esquirol metro station.

Musée Saint-Raymond is an archeological museum that's set up on what was once a necropolis, among several other purposes throughout the ages. Inside the museum, you'll find a wealth of artifacts, with some dating back to prehistory and the Bronze Age.

The building itself is an important piece of history, as it was constructed on what was once a necropolis. After that initial purpose, it served as a hospital, a penitentiary, student housing, stables and a few other roles before it became a museum in the late 19th century. It's located just north of the city centre, right outside a massive basilica.

Georges Labit Museum (Musée Georges-Labit) is a museum of archeology set in a Moorish villa where you'll find artifacts sourced from the travels of Georges Labit. Much of the collection comes from North Africa and Asia, with historic Japanese prints as well as pieces from Ancient Egypt.

The building itself is quite unique compared to others in the area, as it features a prominent Moorish styling. Even the garden outside isn't very French, containing more Asian and Mediterranean plant species than native flora. See it for yourself on the east side of Le Busca by the waterway.

MATOU – Musée de l'Affiche de Toulouse is a poster museum that hosts special events and shows off over 20,000 posters, including those used in advertizing and other graphic works. The posters come from the modern era, but even from that relatively small time period, you can still see drastic stylistic changes over time.

In addition to the collection, this museum also hosts several events quite regularly, including dance shows and even art clearance sales you can take in. Check it all out for yourself on the west side of the Saint-Cyprien district by the Saint Cyprien – Republique metro station.