2023-1 - Flipbook - Page 82
The tour thoroughly exceeded our expectations. The hospitality of the French clubs was
the real highlight. It is always a gamble to work with a new partner. But in the end you
build a bond and you can build with the new partner.
Elegantly situated at the connuence
of the Canal du Midi and the River
Garonne, the vibrant southern city of
Toulouse is often known as La Ville
Rose, a reference to the distinctive
hot-pink stone used to build many of
its buildings.
Busy, buzzy and bustling with
students, this riverside dame has a
2000-year history, but it9s a city with
its feet very much in the future: it9s
been a hub for the aerospace industry
since
the
1930s,
and
is
leading
France9s
drive
towards
cleaner, greener energies.
It9s also a city that lives or dies by the
fortunes of its rugby team, Stade
Toulousain (known simply as the reds
and blacks), who have won the
European Cup a record four times,
most recently in 2012. This passion for
the sport olters all the way through
the
playing
levels,
the
rugby
experience can be described as
passionate,
colourful
and
very
competitive.
With a thriving cafe and cultural
scene,
a
wealth
of
hôtels
particuliers (private mansions) and an
enormously atmospheric old quarter,
France9s fourth-largest city. simply
mustn9t be missed.
We were delighted to with
Rugby Club Amstelveense from
the Netherlands on their 2018 Tour.
They set their sights on the
Stade Toulousain Vs Stade
Rochelais match at the Ernest
Wallon Stadium.
After an epic-coach journey
through France, the tourists made
the game, which Toulouse edged
19-14 despite losing a player to a
Red Card.
Above Left: Whatever corner you
turn you cannot get away from
hearing about the fortunes of
Stade Toulousain when in the city.
Above Right: La Ville Rose from a
birds eye view
Below Left: Airbus has its
European operations in Toulouse.
Below Right: Full day or Half day
excursions are both available to
the
medieval
town
of
Carcassonne.
