Oh! Oh! Oh! Could it be Santa Claus preparing his arrival in the Pink City? As the Place du Capitole Christmas market prepares to set up its pretty white chalets, a winter breeze seems to be blowing through Toulouse. We tell you where to find the most beautiful Christmas lights, the best-decorated Christmas trees, and above all, the launch date for these festivities. Among the new features: one street in Toulouse will be particularly illuminated this year. We tell you all about it.
Enchanting illuminations await you
Once again this year, Toulouse will be decked out in its finest finery to celebrate the festive season. From November 20, 2024, the Pink City will be lit up with a thousand lights. In all, no fewer than ten kilometers of garlands will be installed across the city, while 420 luminous motifs will adorn the lampposts of major avenues such as Saint-Exupéry and Bonnefoy. To complete this enchanting tableau, 90 majestic fir trees will welcome young and old in a warm, festive atmosphere.
New this year: rue Croix-Baragnon, the undisputed star of the festivities
After almost 2 years of work transforming it into a pedestrian zone, rue Croix-Baragnon is set to steal the show this Christmas. This emblematic thoroughfare of Toulouse luxury will be honored with an exceptional light display. Two sophisticated illuminated arches will mark the entrance and exit to the street, inviting strollers to immerse themselves in a magical universe.
Additional garlands, more numerous and more sparkling than ever, will adorn the street with a thousand sparkles, creating a magical atmosphere conducive to strolling and Christmas gift shopping. The neighboring Rue Boulbonne will also be enchanted by the magical decorations!
Early installation for a sparkling AND more economical festive season
Some of you may have been surprised to see the first Christmas trees and garlands appear as early as mid-October. However, this early installation is part of a well-thought-out strategy on the part of the city of Toulouse. Jean-Baptiste de Scorraille – deputy mayor in charge of public lighting – explains that this organization enables substantial savings of €180,000. In fact, by staggering the deployment of decorations over several weeks, the city avoids having to use private service providers, who are therefore more expensive. Clever?
Where can we expect to see the Christmas lights in Toulouse?
- Square Charles-de-Gaulle (the enchanted winter village)
- The square in front of the Donjon du Capitole
- Rue d’Alsace-Lorraine (Christmas tree merry-go-round + 800 m of white ceiling lights)
- Place du Capitole (illumination of the Capitole facade, fir trees…)
- Place Saint-Étienne (Christmas tree)
- Place Esquirol (star beads and lighted path)
- Place des Carmes (star beads and illuminated path)
- Place Wilson (animated arches and decorated Christmas trees)
- Place Saint-Etienne (decorated 10-12m Christmas tree)
- Place du Salin (garlands)
- Place de la Trinité (10 to 12m fir decorated)
- Place Jeanne d’Arc (10 to 12m tree decorated)
- Place Saint-Georges (10 to 12m tree decorated)
- Place Saint Pierre (garlands)
- Place Dupuy (10 to 12m tree decorated)
- Parvis de Saint-Sernin (10 to 12m tree decorated)
- Allées Jean Jaurès – Ramblas (20m giant tree made up of 450 small natural trees + garlands)
- Allées Jules Guesde (garlands)