Take a peaceful break from the city with a walk along the canal banks pathways or an energetic bike ride on the 40km bike path stretching from Toulouse to Port Lauragais on the south bank. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Smaller and less crowded, The Armenian Quarter has an ancient and intriguing atmosphere. The Armenian community is indeed one of the oldest in the city: it is believed that a group of Christian pilgrims founded it in the 4th century AD. If you're interested in religious architecture, take some extra time to visit. Head to St. Mark's Chapel, one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem, dating back to the 12th century. It's located on the exact spot where Jesus's Last Supper happened, and where the Virgin Mary was baptised. Today, it belongs to Syriac Orthodox believers, and it is richly decorated, with a carved throne and beautiful interiors. St James Cathedral is also worth a visit: it is a site of martyrdom and it's only open during masses. Finally, stop by the Armenian Compound. A monastery and hospice, it was a refuge for those who escaped the dramatic Armenian genocide. Today, it is also the seat of the Armenian Patriarchate.

In 620 AD, in the company of an angel, the prophet Mohamad took a night journey to Heaven: called Mi'raj, this episode is a key point in the Islamic tradition. Located on top of the Noble Sanctuary upland, the Dome protects the rock where this journey started. On the same rock, thousands of years before, the biblical patriarch Abraham had allegedly tried to sacrifice his son Isaac, before God told him to stop. The Dome is, according to some, the oldest existing Islamic building, and a holy place of immense importance. Byzantine artisans built it between 687 and 691, and today its golden top stands out against the cityscape. Non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the Dome, but its elegant architecture is definitely worth taking a look at.