Living in Balma, Toulouse
Colocation Living in Balma, Toulouse - chambre à louer entre particuliers, sans agence - Toulouse
An independent town on the edge of Toulouse, with the terminus of metro A that takes you into the centre in a few minutes: the ideal compromise between greenery, quiet and city.
Balma isn't really Toulouse: it's a town in its own right, just to the east, with its own residents, its medieval church and its village identity. But for those who live there the difference is only administrative: from the metro A terminus "Balma-Gramont" the centre of Toulouse is a few minutes away. It's the formula that convinces commuters and workers: space and greenery, without giving up the city.
Who lives here
A mix of rooted families, young couples and workers who gravitate to the business and retail hubs of the Gramont area. The Vidailhan neighborhood, with its recent buildings, the civic centre, the school and the large park, has drawn those seeking something orderly and human-scale. The old centre of Balma, gathered around the Saint-Martin de Boville church, by contrast keeps a village soul. It's easy to find a room in a shared apartment, often larger and brighter than in the city centre.
What it's like during the day
By day Balma has two faces. On one side the retail and business area of Gramont, with supermarkets, offices and the shopping centre: practical but busy. On the other the residential, green areas, with the parc de Lagarde, the Vidailhan park, the little lake at Saint-Clar and the Petit Bois, where people go to walk or run. There's also the Lasbordes aerodrome, a local curiosity for fans of small aircraft.
What it's like in the evening
Evenings are quiet, the kind of a residential neighborhood: few venues, slow rhythms, life concentrated at home or in the retail areas up to a certain hour. Those seeking nightlife find it in the city centre, reachable by metro until late evening (and even later at weekends). Balma is the place you come back to to sleep and breathe, not where you stay out all night.
Getting around
Here lies the real strong point. Metro A departs from "Balma-Gramont", the northeast terminus and the network's only station outside Toulouse: in about 6 minutes you're at Jean-Jaurès, right in the centre and with the change for line B. The trains run very frequently. There's a large park-and-ride (over 1,500 spaces), free if you validate your ticket and stay less than 24 hours: very handy for those arriving by car from the surrounding area. Several bus lines complete the local links.
Eating and shopping
For shopping Balma is well served: large supermarkets in the Gramont area, plus bakeries, pharmacies and neighborhood shops in Vidailhan and the historic centre. For restaurants the offering is more neighborhood than city-centre, but it covers the everyday well. Those who want more choice hop on the metro and in a few minutes are among the bistros and markets of the heart of Toulouse.
When NOT to pick it
If you're after the romantic Toulouse of pink façades, lanes and cafés on every corner, Balma will disappoint you: it's a suburban town, with suburban stretches and not very charming retail areas. Evening life is sparse and without a car some lateral journeys (not towards the centre) require patience with the buses. It's the right pick for those who favour space, greenery and a quick link, not for those who want to live in the urban scene.
Balma is the smart compromise: the calm and space of an independent town, with the centre of Toulouse a metro beat away. For commuters and workers it's hard to find better.