
The Toulouse metro has many (not-so-well-kept) secrets. Works of art, a hanging garden and even a ghost station in the Toulouse metro! A squirrel, a goose or a farm… Today, we’re taking a look at the pretty pictograms you see at every metro station. Why do they exist? What do they mean? We tell you (almost) everything about Toulouse Secret.
Why are there pictograms in the Toulouse metro?
Did you know? Toulouse is the first city in France to introduce pictograms in its public transport network. this Tisséo initiative set up in 2017 therefore makes the Pink City a pioneer in the field. But why such an initiative? These little symbols simply serve to make it easier for users to be independent, while at the same time highlighting the city’s cultural and historical heritage. People with cognitive, visual or mental disabilities, as well as foreigners and illiterate people, can therefore identify metro stops more easily.
The images were created by graphic arts students at the Lycée des Arènes. To ensure the relevance of the pictograms, they were created in partnership with associations such as Trisomie21 Haute-Garonne. So, at Esquirol station, you can see a squirrel, as that’s what the word means in Occitan. If you like anecdotes about Toulouse, you’ll love the meaning of the pictogram at Minimes-Claude Nougaro station. Representing a microphone, it’s a tribute to the singer-songwriter and poet who loved this district so much. In fact, the melody of the Minimes church carillon inspired the theme of his iconic song “Toulouse”! We’ll let you discover the meaning of all the pictograms on the Toulouse metro.