The Rangueil science campus on the banks of the Canal du Midi

The walk starts at the exit of the Université Paul Sabatier metro station, next to the Forum Louis Lareng.

(S/E) Start the walk with the Forum on your right. Opposite you are the blue tower of the university library and the administrative building of Paul Sabatier University. Underneath the small pine grove, turn right, cross the green space alongside Rue Sébastienne Guyot and walk past the buildings of the Institute of Mathematics. Turn left onto Allée Théodore Despeyrous: on your left is the IRIT (Toulouse Institute for Research in Computer Science) and on your right, the FERMI Federation Laboratory.

(1) Go up the stairs on the right and continue along the Promenade Étudiante. Change sides after sign 291, turn right and head towards the Cours des Sciences via Allée Hélène Richard-Foy.

(2) Turn left and walk all the way round the small woodland area on the right, following the path.

(3) Turn right just before the greenhouses. Follow the road, pass a car park, then turn right towards Building U1.

(4) Follow the path running between Buildings U1 and U2. Cross carefully at the “Le Canal” university canteen and continue to the right along Cours Rosalind Franklin.

(5) Leave the road and join the Nature Trail via an unobtrusive entrance: follow the location of the point of interest on the map. Take the path branching off to the left at the sign at the path’s entrance and head towards the Canal du Midi on the left. As the path is somewhat labyrinthine, follow the GPS track closely or simply head north-east until you reach the banks of the Canal du Midi. Continue to the left to walk alongside it.

(6) Leave the canal and walk alongside the STAPS sports complex. Cross Avenue du Colonel Roche with care and rejoin the Canal du Midi. Continue along its banks, passing the INSA buildings then the residential blocks, and finally the Pont-canal des Herbettes.

(7) Leave the Canal du Midi on the left and follow the Chemin des Herbettes. Cross to the other side of the ring road via the bridge and follow the footpath at the first exit of the roundabout, whilst walking alongside the outer ring road. Then head down Avenue de Rangueil to the left and take a short detour to the left past the Civil Engineering and Computer Science IUT buildings. Return to Avenue de Rangueil and continue to the left. Go past the central island of the roundabout.

(8) Cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing and walk through the university campus, following the community garden, then turning left. You will come out onto Cours des Sciences.

(9) Head towards the Paul Sabatier University campus and walk straight on until you reach Building U4: the athletics track is on your left.

(10) Turn right, then right again to walk alongside a car park. Once at the end, turn left onto Allée Huguette Delavault, then turn right onto Cours Eugène Cosserat to reach the university library.

(11) Turn left to cross the forecourt, keeping the university library on your right, and walk up to the Forum Louis Lareng (S/E).

Very important: although many paths are freely accessible and not protected by barriers, entry to the INSA campus is strictly prohibited unless authorised. This is why the route goes completely around the campus.