La Grainerie

Museum of fine and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to 1939. Dupuy (1867–1944) was an art collector whose wealth came from pickled gherkins.

This great ramshackle edifice is partly Gothic but mostly Dog's Breakfast – the medieval builders made a hash of things on a sublime scale. They half-built one church, abandoned it, started building another, abandoned that, while other sections were added and added instead of starting over with a clear site. The Archbishop of Toulouse has to come to work in this Frankencathedral.

A red-brick church from the 11–12th century, it may well be the largest Romanesque construction in the world, partly because it was an important stopover on the pilgrimage to Santiago. Huge as it is, it's the only remnant of the former Abbey of Saint-Sernin. Notable features are the great bell-tower, the gates, the "ambulatory" passage, and the thunderous organ. In the 19th century the church was "restored" by the famous French architect Viollet-le-Duc: some of his re-imaginings of the Middle Ages are now being undone. Saint Sernin or Saturnin (d 257) was one of a group sent from Rome to Christianise 3rd century Gaul; he was martyred by being dragged to death by a bull.

Magnificent red-brick building in Neoclassical style, lording it over the pedestrianised main plaza. It houses City Hall (with a grandiose "Salle des Illustres") and the city's main theatre. They no longer do guided tours but you can see much of it free.

An archaeological museum with Roman artefacts from around Toulouse as well as the largest collection of Roman busts found in France. The site in ancient times was a necropolis then a hospital for pilgrims on the road to Santiago. The present building is from 1523 and became a museum in 1892.

Scientific theme park with interactive exhibits on space travel and replica spacecraft. Most suited to 5–14 year olds.