Learn about Toulouse’s long history of aeronautics with the three guided tours of this iconic developer’s factory and main sites.

Airbus is an aeronautical designer with a fascinating factory that offers an insight into its history and processes. The site gives you a comprehensive overview of the assembly line, the eco-friendly features and many other aspects of the airplane manufacturer. Follow an informative docent on one of the three guided tour circuits available here.

Try the factory’s Panoramic Circuit for a coach ride around the major Airbus sites in Toulouse. Listen to the audio commentary on the bus for a better understanding of the role that each structure plays in aeronautical development. Another tour option is the Green Visit Circuit, which explains the importance of eco-friendly designs.

Among the highlights of the museum experience is the Discovery Visit, allowing you to venture behind the scenes for a test flight. Climb to the viewing platform to see the marvelous vista of the Airbus A380 assembly line below. Docents will chat with visitors, providing facts, figures and stories behind the production line. Browse the range of intriguing items with an aeronautical theme on display in the gift shop.

There is a fee to access the Airbus factory. Young kids can enter for free. A guided visit should take about 90 minutes. Note that photography is not permitted on the tour. Get a discounted deal to combine your tour of Airbus with a trip to the Aeroscopia Museum, a short distance north of the airport. It has a fun children’s zone as well as aircraft, model planes and photography collections.

Airbus is on the northeastern side of the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in the western outskirts of Toulouse. Drive west for 5 miles (8 kilometers) to reach the factory in about 25 minutes or take a taxi from the airport. Visit some of the nearby attractions, including Le Zénith, the Toulouse Golf de l’Hippodrome and Barry Gardens.