Toulouse. France

Toulouse is known as 'La Ville Rose' (meaning Pink City) due to the dusty-pink bricks used for many of its buildings, and is the country's fourth-largest city. Yet Toulouse receives a fraction of the visitors compared to better-known cities. But this city has much going on: a buzzing cultural scene, a beautiful old quarter packed with private mansions and a wonderful location at the meeting of the Canal du Midi and the River Garonne. Additionally, there's a fantastic space museum and the primary Airbus factory – reminders of the role Toulouse has had in France's aerospace industry.