Stade Toulousain
The Stade Toulousain is the main sports stadium in Toulouse and hosts rugby and football matches, and music concerts, and is easy to get to by public transport.
Going to the Stade Toulousain is a special occasion. The city prides itself on being the home of rugby in France, and the rugby heart beats strongly here. Although it is officially the home of the city’s soccer team, and the Ernest-Wallon stadium is the rugby team’s home, that ground only holds 20,000 and many games are transferred to the Stade Toulousain, which holds just over 33,000 people.
The stadium opened as a bull-ring in 1949 but soon after became the home of Toulouse FC, which it has remained ever since. The first rugby international there was in 1956, when France played Czechoslovakia. The stadium was extended in 1983, and renovated in 1997, just before the soccer World Cup came to Toulouse.
It was also one of the host stadiums when the 2007 Rugby World Cup was held in France, and again for EUFA’s Euro 2016. It also hosts music concerts – Michael Jackson performed there in 1992 as part of his Dangerous World Tour.
Getting to the Stade Toulousain
The Stade Toulousain is at 1 allée Gabriel Biénés, 31400 Toulouse (tel: +33 8 92 69 31 15; https://www.stadetoulousain.fr/). It is about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) south of the Pont Neuf, on the huge Île du Ramier, on the River Garonne. The best way to get there is by bus or taxi.
By Car
The E80 périphérique (ring road) passes across the Île du Ramier, about 1 km (0.6 miles) south of the stadium. Look for the exit signs for the Stade Toulousain. There is parking at and around the stadium, although if you’re based in the city centre it will be easier to take public transport or a taxi.
By Public Transport
The stadium has two bus stops, East and West, and several bus lines go there from the city centre: numbers 12, 34, and 52. You can also walk to the stadium from the Empalot station on Line B of the métro. There is also a shuttle bus on match days from the Arènes métro stop on Line A. The nearest tram station is on Line T1, and on match days a shuttle bus runs between here and the Stade Toulousain.
By Train
The Gare Toulouse-Matabiau is north of the city centre and about 5 km (3.1 miles) north of the stadium. If going direct to the stadium, take a taxi.
Nearest Airport to the Stade Toulousain
The Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (tel: +33 8 25 38 00 00; toulouse.aeroport.fr) is 10 km (6.2 miles) northwest of the city centre, and about a 14 km (8.7 miles) drive to the stadium. It’s a long taxi ride, but that is the most practical way if going direct to the stadium. Otherwise take one of the airport shuttle buses (every 20 minutes) into the city centre.
Eating at the Stade Toulousain
There are several restaurants within a few minutes’ walk of the stadium (where in France is more than a few minutes’ walk from somewhere to eat?) but there’s only one place to eat when you’re at the stadium, and that’s the Brasserie du Stade. This is inside the stadium, and the Brasserie’s consultant chef is Michel Sarran, whose main city restaurant has a Michelin star.
La Brasserie du Stade
This fabulous place manages to be both stylish and sporty at the same time, both elegant yet relaxed. Sports photos in dark red frames stand out against the yellow walls, and down one wall a trophy cabinet includes one of the Heineken Cups won by Toulouse.
The cuisine, though, is streets ahead of any other sporting restaurant anywhere. Typical dishes include magret de canard with a tapenade crust and courgette flowers, or la nage de poissons et langoustines aux baies roses. Just don’t ask for a player’s autograph when he’s tucking into food like this. Superb.
114 rue des Troënes, 31200 Toulouse
brasserie.stadetoulousain.fr
Tel: +33 5 34 42 24 20