The climate in Toulouse is generally temperate. July's average temperatures can reach 27 C (82 F), while in January average temperatures can sink to 1 C (35 F).

May receives the most rainfall with an average of 73 mm, while January is the driest month with average precipitation of 48 mm.

Chamber of Commerce Toulouse 2 rue Alsace Lorraine 31000 Toulouse; Tel.: +33(0)5 61 33 65 00

Delegation of Toulouse of Italian Chamber of Commerce Entiore/Quint-Fonsegrives 31134 Balma Cedex, Tél : +33(0)5 62 57 07 02 ; www.france-italie.net

Brazil 6 allée françois verdier 31000 Toulouse, +33 (0)5 61 62 66 41

Italy 13 r Alsace Lorraine 31000 Toulouse  +33 (0)5 34 45 48 48

Mexico 34 r Aubuisson 31000 Toulouse., +33 (0)5 34 41 74 40

Netherlands 54 bis rue Alsace Lorraine, 4e étage, 31000 Toulouse, Tél : +33(0)5 61 13 64 94

U.S. 25 all Jean Jaurès 31000 Toulouse., +33 (0)5 34 41 36 50

Most large hotels also have business centers that offer many of the same services that independent centers provide.

BURO Club Toulouse Le Pré Catelan, 78, allée Jean Jaurès; Tel.: +33 (0)5 61 63 30 00

Multiburo Régions 9, rue de Sébastopol; Tel.: +33 (0)5 61 11 07 70

Major hotels also offer conference and exhibition facilities.

Centre Congr&eagrave;s Pierre Baudis 11 Esplanade Compans-Cafarelli; Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 30 40 40

Centre de Congr&eagrave;s Diagora Technopole de Toulouse Sud-Est r Pierre-Gilles de Gennes BP 71907 31319 LABEGE CEDEX; Tel. : +33 5 61 39 93 39

Institut Aéronautique et Spatial (IAS) Complexe scientifique de Rangueil; 23, avenue Edouard Belin; Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 17 33 33

Translation Nation 18 allée de Nanbours, 31650 Auzielle, Tel. : + 33 (5) 61 73 51 76

Alphatrad 78 all Jean Jaurès 31000 TOULOUSE, +33 (0)5 61 62 03 72 or 0 825 33 25 25

T.i.e.r.c.e 23, rue Aimeric De Péguilhan; Tel: +33 5 61 15 03 77

GLS France 14, rue Michel Labrousse B.P. 1230 31037 Toulouse Cedex 1; Tel: +33 825 34 34 34 / +33 8 99 70 31 00

DHL Express Aérogare de frêt Bâtiment 6, 31700 Blagnac; Tel.: +33(0)820 20 25 25 (toll-free within France)

FedEx Gare Routière de Marchandises, 6 avenue de Fondeyre, 31200 Toulouse; Tel.: +33(0)820 123 800 (toll-free within France)

UPS Tel.: +33 (0)8 00 87 78 77 (toll-free within France)

All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels also offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafes are available including:

Cyber King Toulouse 31, rue Gambetta 31000 Toulouse, Tel. : + 33 (5) 62 27 13 97

Cyber Café Net House 1, rue Trois Renards 31000 Toulouse; Tel.: +33(0)5 61 21 98 42

Cyber Media Net 19 rue Lois 31000 Toulouse; Tel.: +33 (0)5 61 23 71 45

Citizens of Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. do not need a visa to enter France. Citizens of the People's Republic of China must apply for a visa.

Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content exceeding 22% by volume or 2 liter of spirits or liquors with an alcohol content not exceeding 22% by volume; 50g of perfume and 250 ml of eau de toilette and personal goods up to the value of 183 EUR. However, there are now no limits imposed on tobaccos and alcohol from one EU country to another.

The International Dialing Code for France is 33. The city code for Toulouse is (0)5.

Police 17

Fire 18

Ambulance 15

Urgences Tel.: 112

When making calls within France, you need to add "0" in front of the area code. You do not need to dial "0" when calling Toulouse from abroad. Directory assistance is 12. Toll-free numbers begin with "800," while premium numbers begin with "08". Public phones are widely available, and most public phones accept only calling cards.

Cellular numbers start with "06". GSM is the cellular standard in France. SFR, Orange France, and Bouygues Telecom are the main cellular providers. If you choose to bring your cellular phone into France, be sure to check with your home cellular service provider to establish compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular phone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable service.

As of January 1, 2002, euro became the official currency. Euro notes are available in denominations of 5 EUR, 10 EUR, 20 EUR, 50 EUR, 100 EUR, 200 EUR, and 500 EUR, while coins are in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and 1 EUR and 2 EUR. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels, airports, train stations, and authorized foreign currency exchange offices. ATMs are available throughout the country. Traveler's checks are accepted widely. Most businesses accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Diners Club is less common. You may be required to enter your four-digit PIN number, so you should be sure to have this information.

Restaurants A 15 percent service charge is usually added to the bill, unless the menu says service non compris or service en sus when you should add your own 15 percent; an additional small tip for good service is always welcome

Bars Service is usually included, but it's customary to leave a euro or two or just round up the charge

Airport skycap/porter 1 EUR to 1.5 EUR per piece of luggage

Taxis 10 percent of the fare

Hotel bell desk 1.5 EUR per piece of luggage

Hotel housekeeping 1.5 EUR per night

Hotel room service Service charge is usually included, but round it up or leave another 1 EUR

Parking attendant/valet 1 EUR to 1.5 EUR

Haircare/personal services 10 percent of the charge

France is in the Western European Time Zone, which is Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour. It observes Daylight Savings Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

VAT is 19.6% and is always included in the posted price.

Electricity is 220-240V AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round with either two or three pins.

Toulouse has an efficient and widely available public transport system consisting of subway (METRO) and bus networks (SEMVAT). There are two subway lines and 55 lines of buses. Taxis can be found at designated taxi stands or can be ordered by phone.

Allô Semvat Tel.: +33(0)5 61 41 70 70

France requires no special immunizations or health precautions. France has one of world's top healthcare systems, and the emergency rooms are well equipped. Pharmacies in Toulouse take turns staying open after hours - lists are posted in the pharmacy windows. Access to prescription and over-the-counter drugs in France are excellent.

• New Year's Day January 1

• Good Friday Friday before Easter (not official but widely observed)

• Easter Sunday in mid-March or early April

• Easter Monday Monday after Easter

• Ascension Day Sixth Thursday after Easter

• Labor Day May 1

• 1945 Victory Day May 8

• Bastille Day July 14

• Assumption August 15

• All Saints Day November 1

• Remembrance Day November 11

• Christmas December 25

The most stylish and consistently praised restaurant in Toulouse, Chez Michel Sarran, features a very fresh, very creative array of dishes designed to bring out the savours of Southern and South-western France. Au Pois Gourmand's reputation for an elegant French dining experience makes it a worthwhile choice. Le Bistrot des Vins, an attractive, informal place with modern decor inside, sells a huge selection of wines. To sample succulent, creative cuisine based on the flavours native to southern France, try the bistro Michel, Marcel, Pierre et les Autres. If you are seeking unique ambiance, meals at Les Jardins de l'Opera are served in an exquisite Florentine-style courtyard, dating from the 18th century. Refined French nouvelle cuisine in a sumptuous setting is what can be found at Le Pastel. The turn-of-the-20th-century Brasserie des Beaux-Arts offers a pure and authentic Art Nouveau decor and a cuisine that emphasizes well-prepared seafood.

Toulouse is known for its fine selection of house wares, linens and fashion. Several specialized shops are located on rue St. Rome and rue d'Alsace Lorraine.

A concentration of high-end designer fashion shops can be found on rue Croix-Baragon, rue des Arts, and rue St. Antoine du T. Several shops on rue Fermat have interesting assortments of antiques.

Toulouse has much to offer in the way of cultural outings. Its most famous attraction is the Romanesque-style Basilique St. Serin. The stunning Cathedral of St. Etienne also warrants a visit as does the Notre Dame du Taur and the Capitole, a pink-and-white wonder of classical architecture. You may notice several structures around the Capitole built with a rosy-hued brick. Called the Toulousain, this brick inspired the city's nickname "La Ville Rose". Notable among its many museums are Foundation Bemberg, which has a collection spanning 500 years of European artists, the Museum of Augustins, which has assembled the biggest collection of Romanesque works in the world, and the Museum of St Raymond, with its extraordinarily rich presentation of artifacts dating from prehistoric to Roman times. A contemporary art gallery that merits a visit is Les Abattoirs, located on the right bank of the River Garonne.A major player in the aerospace industry, it seems only appropriate that Toulouse has a museum dedicated to space. In addition to a planetarium, La Cité de l'Espace has informative displays about the Mir space station and Ariane 5. Among the several gardens and green spaces in Toulouse and surrounding area are the Jardin Compans-Caffarelli, with its Japanese-style garden and waterfall, and the Canal du Midi.