“Toulouse is close to everything, one hour and a half driving to the Mediterranean sea, one hour to Pyrénées and two hours and a half to Atlantic ocean”. Well, that’s fine, however, what can I do around Toulouse without spending my day on the road? Let’s be honest, going to the Pyrénées or to sea is something to plan and people does not always have a car in order to drive so far.

I walked a lot around Toulouse the past years in order to relax far from the noice of the city. I always looked to new spots in order to walk my dog too. Below are my recommendations. Take into consideration that there are other place more famous that I will mention in “Additionnal Places”. Through this article, my goal is to try to highlight you “something else”. Welcome home mate and have a nice visit.

Nature is not easily reachable by public transport in Toulouse. As I noticed in the introduction, everything is close and far in the same time. For people who does not have a car, it is not always easy. Take a moment to find your itinerary in Tisséo website (public transport company in Toulouse).

The most famous of all the places that you will find in this guide. I still notice Pech David because I know many people from Toulouse who have never been there yet. For a run, to walk or chill, Pech David is definitely the best and the closest spot of Toulouse in order to get fresh air. It takes places just behind the Rangueil hospital. Incredible spot in order to enjoy a sunset too.

In Saint-Martin du Touch, you will find a piece of nature that I call the “Graffiti Road”. I walked once here with my dog and it was a huge suprise to find a place like that. During all the way, you walk along a small river. The additional points are the graffiti everywhere in this path, and some are really beautiful. You can catch many different paths and even find abandoned tennis courts which are graffed too. You can catch a bus in order to join the windmill of Saint Martin du Touch and then join the small river (Flambère or Bisson bus stop, bus n°63, 46 or L2). Below are other photos of my escape here.

Additional Spots

• Canal du Midi – This famous canal is crossing Toulouse from the North to the South. It is common in Toulouse to enjoy a walk along the Canal du Midi. Going to the South, after Paul Sabatier University, you will quickly arrive through the lands and more natural landscapes.
• Ramier Island – Indeed, there is an island in Toulouse in the middle of the Garonne. Mainly known for its Stadium, exhibition hall or casino, this island still keeps secret spots, essentially around the casino where you can find different paths. At the end of the island, on the South, there is also an abandoned brige where you can experiment some urbex.
• La Ramée – Famous spot in Toulouse in order to enjoy a running around a lake (there is a beach in the summer time). It is often crowdy.
• Saint-Caprais Lake – Same than la Ramée. Lake where you can relax and run around. There are many green space around, moreover it is smaller but probably better and more natural than la Ramée.

If you have a car, or a friend which can help you to reach these places, go there, it is where Toulouse’s countryside starts. Some places are even reachable by bus I guess. If you look to the TAD timetables, I am pretty sure that you can find solutions to go.

Spot alert! Laragou Lake is an awesome summer place not far from Toulouse. In the East side of our city, enjoy a walk around this cool lake surrounded by lands and forests. One thing unique in this lake is a summer short-lived restaurant called “guinguette”, where you can buy food and drinks all over the day. It is such a great area in order to chill during a summer evening with friends. I would definitely recommend to go there because this atmosphere is awesome. You can try to take a bath too, I did, however it is not adviced at all.

In the South of Toulouse, enjoy a small and peaceful hike along Ariège River. Starting from Clermont-Le-Fort Mairie (City Hall), take the path which goes down in order to enjoy this cool hike not far from Toulouse. You will have many opportunities to swim in the River (if the water flow is not too high) and to enjoy the sunshine on natural beaches. I think that it is hard to join this place by public transport. You can still have a look on internet or call the tourism office.

Few kilometers before Clermont le Fort, enjoy the same landscapes and nature in Lacroix-Falgarde along Ariège River. I advice you to park in Bellevue restaurant parking, then, walk around the forest in order to enjoy the river sound and to walk deeply in the Toulouse’s nature. Same advice than Clermont le Fort, have a look if a TAD (public transport which goes in village around Toulouse) is going there.

Additional Spots

• Bouconne Forest – Forest in the South-West of Toulouse, about 20 kilometers from the city center. Just forest, nothing more.
• Buzet Forest – Forest in the North-East of Toulouse, about 20 kilometers from the city center. Just forest, nothing more.
• Balerme Lake – Not that far from Laragou Lake, you will find a green and natural area where you will have many opportunities to walk and to enjoy a lunch close to the water. This lake, as Laragou, is mainly a fishing area.

Toulouse has many hidden advantages concerning escapes. People are mainly aware about seas at the East or West of the city, or the mountains in the South. However, Toulouse keep many secrets. If you have the chance to have a car, follow me in order to show you some unique place in France.

Tarn is incredible. I am honest, there are so many stuffs to do there, you could spend an entire month to discover everything. Toulouse people or even tourist are not always aware of the gems which are present just an hour drive from Toulouse. It will be hard to spot everything so I will essentialy focus on natural spot. Even if villages can be defined as natural, you will find below only spots where you can walk through nature. Short comment, I have not been in every places here.

• Arifat Waterfall – I discovered this location thanks to Tarn’s Tourism Office on Instagram. When I heard about a waterfall within Tarn I was really surprised. Finally, this hike which make a circle was awesome. It should take you around 30 minutes. I really recommend you to go there. You will drive on a pleasant and beautiful road through the countryside to reach the waterfall.
• Saint Ferréol Lake – This artifical lake is a nice spot in order to walk on a flat path. Mainly known during the summer for its beaches where you can swim, St Ferréol is also a good alternative to chill around and enjoy winter or spring sunshine. This place is overall a great natural spot.
• Mazamet Footbridge – For tourist and nature lover, there is a new spot accessible in Tarn. Since 2018, a footbrige has been open above Arnette valley. Similar to many footbridge that you can see in Switzerland, Norway or even French mountains, the idea to create such a spot was smart. I have never been there yet so I could not tell you how long it takes to reach the footbridge.
• Capelette de Dourgne – This place is basically a chapel lost around nowhere which overlooks a part of Tarn. It takes place on the top of a hill, which permits to have a great view. I have never been there but it has been a long time that I would. From the photos and people who have been, I would definitely recommend you to go there.

About area where I have been, I could conclude that a huge part of the natural places around Toulouse are mainly concentrated in the East and South part of Toulouse. In the West, in Gers, I could see that it is essentially agricultural lands. I assume that I do not know everything and I am sure there are still a lot of hidden spots in Gers. You will find in the list below the last locations I could advice you:

• L’Aouache x Le Fauga – Earlier in this article, I adviced you area along Ariege River. It exists spots along Garonne River too which are cool. For instance, I advice you to drive your car close to le Fauga in order to join l’Aouache. There are many paths which go along the river and you will find many beaches in order to set up your towel and swim safe in the river.
• Saint-Antonin Noble Val and Bruniquel – I will be really short about these locations as it is villages. However, I spot both because nature around is incredible. You are within a village but nature is everywhere around. There are a LOT OF villages like that in Tarn and Tarn et Garonne. However, I promised to be essentially focus on nature escapes.