To see something of the modern face of Toulouse, it's necessary to venture out into the suburbs, where you can visit a high-tech amusement park and a very specialized but surprisingly interesting aircraft assembly plant. The first of these is the Cité de l'Espace (Mar, May & June Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat & Sun 9am–7pm; Apr, July & Aug daily 9am–7pm; Sept–Dec Tues–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat & Sun 9am–7pm; www.cite-espace.com; €12), beside exit 17 of the A612 périphérique on the road to Castres, or take bus #19 from place Marengo. The theme is space and space exploration, including satellite communications, space probes and, best of all, the opportunity to walk inside a mock-up of the Mir space station – fascinating, but absolutely chilling. Many of the exhibits are interactive and, though it's a bit on the pricey side, you could easily spend a half-day here, especially if you've got children in tow.In 1970 Toulouse became home to Aérospatiale, which, along with the aerospace industries of Germany, Britain and Spain, now manufactures Airbus passenger jets. The planes are assembled, painted and tested in a vast hangar, L'Usine Clément Ader, before taking their maiden flights from next-door Blagnac airport. Members of the public are allowed inside the plant on a highly informative guided tour (occasionally in English; €8.90), but you need to apply at least two weeks before with your passport details, or a few days before for citizens of EU-member countries (July & Aug contact the tourist office; Sept–June call the company direct on 05.61.18.06.01). After a brief bus tour round the site and a short PR film, you climb high above the eerily quiet assembly bays where just one hundred people churn out five planes a week, ably assisted by scores of computerized robots.
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