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Tours Loire Valley Office Tourist

78-82 rue de Bernard Palissy - 37000 Tours France

Phone: +33 2 47 70 37 37 - [email protected]

• Messenger chat available from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5.30pm.

April to May: Monday to Saturday: 8.30am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5pm

June to August: Monday to Saturday and public holidays: 8.30am to 7pm Sundays (including 14 July): 9.30am to 5pm

September: Monday to Saturday: 8.30am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5pm

October to December: Monday to Saturday: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 6.00 pm Sundays and public holidays: 9.30am to 12.30pm

Villandry Tourist Office

Rue principale – 37510 Villandry France

Phone: +33 2 47 50 12 66 - [email protected]

From 29 March to 12 May (Spring school holidays all zones): Tuesday to Saturday: 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm Sundays and 1 April (Easter), 1, 8 and 9 May: 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5pm

From 13 May to 2 June: Friday to Saturday: 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 6pm Sunday and Monday 20 May (Whitsun): 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5pm

From 3 June to 1 September: Monday to Saturday: 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm Sundays and public holidays: 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5pm

From 2 to 30 September: Friday: 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm Saturday: 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm Sunday: 10am to 1pm

Rochecorbon Tourist Office

We welcome you to roam the banks of the Loire on a scooter.

Temporarily closed.

The Tours Loire Valley and Villandry Tourist Offices have been awarded the Tourism & Handicap label, enabling them to offer the best possible welcome to visitors with motor, mental, visual or hearing disabilities.

A hearing aid, a Braille presentation of the town and a document with enlarged characters are available at reception.

In Tours, there is a parking space reserved for people with reduced mobility in front of the Tourist Office, and the nearest adapted public toilets are at Tours SNCF station.

The Tours Loire Valley and Villandry Tourist Offices have been awarded the Accueil Vélo label, which guarantees a high-quality welcome and services along cycle routes for touring cyclists.

Tours travel guide

Visit Tours (Centre-Loire Valley, France)

The town of Tours is in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Centre region (the Loire Valley), and it is the largest town in the region. A busy, thriving town Tours is also only an hour to the south-west of Paris .

Exploring Tours

France This Way review: in Tours you will discover an extensive medieval historic centre, an imposing cathedral and cloisters, modern shopping streets and several other important monuments: together these make the town a very interesting and enjoyable destination to visit.

If possible, start your visit with a visit to Tours Tourist office on Rue Bernard Palissy to the south-east of the centre: this is adjacent to the car park on Rue Général Leclerc so we suggest you park there if arriving by car. The tourist office have lots of useful information about hidden sites and places you might not otherwise discover, such as a route for wine tasting...

One of the main attractions in Tours is the historic centre of the old town, in and around Place Plumereau. Around the edges of the square there are beautiful 12th to 15th century half timbered houses and some houses that also include fascinating features such as the carved figures on the facade of the house on the corner with Rue du Commerce.

The square is also filled with cafes and open air seating, so it’s a great place to sit and have a drink.

After exploring the streets in the historic centre, if you walk a short distance south along Rue du Change you reach another group of interesting buildings including the Tour Charlemagne, built over the tomb of Luitgarde, the wife of Charlemagne, and the Basilica Saint-Martin.

Inside the Basilica Saint-Martin , built in Tours in the 19th century in the neo-byzantine style, you can admire the painting of the dome and in the crypt of the church is the tomb of Saint-Martin, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in France.

There are a number of grand houses dating from the Renaissance period along Rue du Commerce, to the east of the old town. Our favourite is the Hotel Gouin with a lovely Renaissance façade: the archeaology museum is now housed in the building.

At the end of Rue du Commerce you can see another impressive religious monument, the Church of Saint-Julien, that combines both roman and gothic styles of architecture.

Cathedral Saint-Gatien and La Psalette cloisters

The Cathedral Saint-Gatien, the most important religious monument in Tours, is at the east end of Rue Commerce and Rue Colbert, and contains the tombs of the children of Charles VIII. Most notable, although part of the cathedral dates from the 12th century, much of the western end was built in the 15th century in so-called 'flamboyant gothic' style.

Adjacent to the cathedral are the cloisters of la Psalette - an impressive structure in a mix of architectural styles with elaborate stonework and a beautiful renaissance staircase. In part of the cloisters you can see the room where religious chanting was practiced. The cloisters are listed as one of 85 National Monuments in France.

See our separate guide for information about Tours cathedral and the la Psalette cloisters .

Other monuments in Tours

Next to the cathedral is the Museum of Fine Arts housed in the Archbishops Palace. You should stroll around the pretty gardens even if you are not going into the museum. There is also a cedar tree in the garden of the Archbishops palace, famous for being planted by Napoleon.

Next to the river on the other side of the cathedral you can see the Chateau of Tours, although only two towers now remain. The Tour de Guise houses a wax-work museum and a Tropical Aquarium.

If you walk south along Rue Nationale from the Church of Saint-Julien you can pause to do some shopping then continue to Place Jean Jaures to see two very impressive classical style buildings dating from Tours period of prosperity in the 18th century: the Palais de Justice and the Hotel de Ville.

As you would expect of a major town such as Tours you will also find a wide range of shops, restaurants and all other commerces. There are also markets held in different parts of the town almost every day of the week.

Parcs and gardens in Tours

For a change from the bustle of the streets there are several public parks and gardens in Tours. We enjoyed a visit to the Botanic gardens, an extensive area of trees, gardens and water features opposite the Bretonneau Hospital to the west of the centre and also a stroll around the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé to the south of Tours town centre (rue Roger Salengro).

There are many others that we did not unfortunately have time to visit, which you will find on the map given out by the tourist office in Tours.

Attractions nearby

Of course no visit to the Loire Valley would be complete without visiting a castle or two, and several of the most important castles, towns and villages are within easy reach of Tours.

Among our favourites, the gardens at Château de Villandry are a short distance along the river to the west of Tours, and in the pretty town of Amboise you can visit the Chateau d'Amboise and Chateau de Clos Lucé , once home to Leonardo da Vinci. See also Loire Valley castles for more information.

You can find more travel ideas in the Indre-et-Loire guide and the Loire Valley guide .

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Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

The basilica Saint-Martin is an imposing neo-byzantine church in the town of Tours

Tours Cathedral and La Psalette Cloisters

The la Psalette cloister and the cathedral of Tours together make a very impressive religious monument with various architectural styles

Chateau de Villandry

The rooms at Chateau de Villandry can be explored, but it is the world famous French style gardens here that will hold your attention the longest

Although it is the castle that attracts visitors to Amboise, you will also enjoy exploring the main square and old streets elsewhere in the small town

Azay-le-Rideau

The village of Azay-le-Rideau is best known for its castle but also has a pleasant centre with a historic church and mill to explore

Chateau d'Amboise

The Chateau d'Amboise is a castle with impressive gardens and a lovely view across the rooftops of Amboise

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Indre-et-Loire

Tourist classifications for Tours

Tours has received the following tourist classifications: listed town of Art and History ; historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé); village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*

Address: Tours, Loire Valley, 37000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 47.393, longitude 0.6891

Plan your visit to Tours, Indre-et-Loire

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby.

• Cloisters of la Psalette : national monument
• Le jardin des Prébendes d'Oé: remarkable garden
• Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire: ville fleurie 4*
• Les jardins du prieuré de Saint-Cosme: remarkable garden (2 km)
• Les jardins du château de Villandry : remarkable garden (14 km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Valmer: remarkable garden (15 km)
• Aquarium du Val-de-Loire: aquarium (17 km)
• Les jardins de la Chatonnière: remarkable garden (22 km)
• Amboise : secteur sauvegarde (22 km)
• Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau : national monument (22 km)
• Réserve de Beaumarchais: zoo or wildlife park (27 km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Chenonceau : remarkable garden (30 km)

The French version of this page is at Tours (Francais)

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Bustling Tours is a smart and vivacious city, with an impressive medieval quarter, fine museums, well-tended parks and a university of some 30,000 students. Combining the sophisticated style of Paris with the conservative sturdiness of central France, Tours makes an ideal staging post for exploring the castles of the Touraine.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Musée du Compagnonnage

This extraordinary museum – an absolute gem! – spotlights France's renowned compagnonnages, guild organisations of skilled craftspeople who have created…

Musée des Beaux-Arts

This superb fine-arts museum, in a gorgeous 18th-century archbishop’s palace, features paintings, sculpture, furniture and objets d'art from the 14th to…

Cathédrale St-Gatien

With its flying buttresses, gargoyles and twin Renaissance-style towers (70m) – and, inside, Gothic vaulting, dazzling stained glass and huge baroque…

Jardin Botanique

Founded in 1843, Tours' delightful 5-hectare botanical gardens have a tropical greenhouse, a medicinal herb garden, a small zoo and children's playgrounds…

Hôtel Gouïn

Hidden behind an Italianate façade, this gorgeous early-Renaissance residence – visible through a stone gate – was built for a wealthy merchant around…

Basilique St-Martin

In the Middle Ages, Tours was an important pilgrimage city thanks to the relics of soldier-turned-evangelist St Martin (c 317–97). In the 5th century a…

Cloître de la Psalette

This cloister, built from 1442 to 1524 – that's why it's partly Flamboyant Gothic and party Renaissance – is located on the north side of the Cathédrale…

Hôtel de Ville

Built from 1896 to 1904, Tours' monumental city hall was designed to project both republican values and municipal prestige.

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What To Do in Tours, France (Guide + Map)

• December 26, 2023

Located just an hour away by train from Paris, Tours is often used as a base for visiting the chateaux of Loire Valley. It is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, well connected by public transport to the most famous castles in the area. Indeed, from here, you can easily reach the historic palaces of Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois and Amboise.

Once the capital of France, today Tours is a lively city boasting a beautiful historic centre with half-timbered houses and gourmet bistros. A perfect stop on your way through the Loire Valley!

What to do in Tours, France in one day

Thanks to its central location and excellent public transport connections to the nearby towns, Tours is a great base to discover the chateaux of Loire. This is one of the main cities I’d recommend you to base yourself in, especially if you’re travelling by train.

Besides being an excellent base for touring the historic chateaux, Tours itself is worth at least half a day of exploring. Take a walk along the narrow cobbled streets while admiring the half-timbered houses, the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn.

Follow my itinerary to discover the best things to do in Tours, France for one day. You’ll also find what are the most famous chateaux to visit near the city and some restaurant recommendations.

At the end of the blog post, you can find a map of this itinerary (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites).

What to do in Tours in one day

Breakfast at l’atelier du talemelier.

• Visit Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

Tour de l’Horloge and Tour de Charlemagne

• Have a cup of coffee at Place Plumereau
• Admire Hôtel Goüin

Lunch at Les Gens Heureux

• Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral

Hôtel de Ville de Tours

• Admire the art at Musée des Beaux-Arts
• Take a walk in the Botanical Garden
• Visit the quirky Musée de Compagnonnage

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM Start your one day in Tours with breakfast at L’Atelier du Talemelier or Kat’s Coffee . L’Atelier du Talemelier is a great bakery which offers quality pastries and sandwiches. However, if you prefer to enjoy some delicious cakes with your coffee, head to Kat’s Coffee.

Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours (Basilica of St. Martin) is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, the third bishop of Tours. It was built over the traditional burial site of the saint in the 5th century AD. During the centuries, the small basilica was replaced several times with larger structures.

The basilica in a Neo-byzantine style that you see today dates from the 19th century. However, you can still see some of the remains of the older Romanesque edifice – the western clock tower and Tour de Charlemagne (Charlemagne Tower). They are located just a few steps away from the current church.

Inside the crypt, you’ll find the tomb of Saint Martin.

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Tour de l’Horloge (Clock Tower) and Tour de Charlemagne are the only remnants of the impressive structure of the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of Saint Martin.

Tour de Charlemagne was built on the site of the tomb of Luitgard, the last wife of Charlemagne. The king was so greatly affected by her death in 800, that he decided that Luitgard would be buried in the Basilica of Saint Martin. In the 19th century, the Charlemagne Tower was converted into a water tower.

Although, it’s not possible to visit the towers, take a few moments and admire their structure. Just imagine the grandeur of the 11th-century Romanesque basilica, of which these towers were part!

Place Plumereau

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM Place Plumereau is the heart of the historic centre of Tours. It is a lively square with bars and restaurants, framed by charming 15th-century half-timbered houses. A popular place to sit and watch the world go by!

The square is named in honour of Charles Plumereau, a municipal councillor of Tours, who bequeathed 3000 francs to the city.

Hôtel Goüin

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM This Renaissance palace served as a private mansion of a family of silk merchants in the 15th century. The façade with its beautiful arches is a real masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. So don’t miss to take a quick look and admire the exterior!

Hôtel Goüin is named after a family of Breton bankers who purchased the building in 1738. And don’t be fooled by the word hotel, this is not an actual hotel, but a museum for temporary art exhibitions.

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM For lunch head to Les Gens Heureux . This typical French restaurant offers a small selection of interesting dishes with a unique combination of flavours.

Saint-Gatien Cathedral

02:00 PM – 02:30 PM Tours Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Gatien) is dedicated to the first bishop of Tours – Saint Gatianus. Built between 1170 and 1547, it reflects the development of the Gothic style of architecture. Some of the cathedral’s highlights include the spectacular 13th-14th century stained glass windows and an Italian-style organ.

The cathedral houses the tombs of the children of Anne de Bretagne and Charles VII. Also, you’ll find a chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc. She had met with Charles VII here in Tours, an important meeting which became a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.

02:45 PM – 03:00 PM The last stop of this Tours itinerary is the town hall, Hôtel de Ville de Tours. Take your time and enjoy its magnificent Renaissance Revival façade.

The town hall was built between 1896 and 1904 by the famous architect Victor Laloux. It is the same architect who designed the Orsay museum in Paris!

Dinner at La Maison des Halles

Finish your one day in Tours with dinner at La Maison des Halles . The wine list here is great and the menu is excellent (don’t miss the desserts – the best I’ve had during a week in France).

More ideas for your one day in Tours, France

Museum of fine arts.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) is housed in the former bishop’s palace. The museum owns a remarkable collection of Italian Primitives from the 14th-15th centuries. Among them are two renaissance paintings by Andrea Mantegna, considered masterpieces. You’ll also find many artworks by Delacroix, Degas, Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens and Rodin.

Don’t miss the staggering cedar tree at the museum entrance, which is over 200 years old!

Castle of Tours

Close to the cathedral, you’ll find the Castle of Tours (Château de Tours). Built in the 11th century, this small chateau served as a residence of the Carolingian dynasty. Today, it houses contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photographs .

Church of Saint Julien

The Church of Saint Julien (Église Saint-Julien de Tours) is a part of a former Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century. Most of the church is in Romanesque style and dates back to the 13th century.

Tours Botanical Garden

Founded in 1843, the Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique de Tours) is the oldest city park. It’s a lovely area with lots of wildlife and thematic gardens – greenhouses, orchards, medical gardens, arboretums and many others. There is also a petting zoo with farm animals like donkeys, sheep, rabbits and poultry!

Musée de Compagnonnage

Musée de Compagnonnage occupies the dormitory at the former Abbey of Saint-Julien. This quirky museum is dedicated to the city’s trade guilds. The exhibition represents various objects related to metalwork, tailoring, culinary, shoemaking and woodcarving.

Where to stay in Tours, France

If you intend to use Tours as a base to explore the Loire castles, take a look at my recommendations below on where to stay. You’ll find most of the historic attractions and restaurants in the area between the Loire River and the Central Railway station. So, I’d advise you to look for accommodations in this area, because you’ll be within walking distance of everything.

Perfectly located in the heart of Tours, just a short walk from everything. Also, the hotel features a good bistro-style restaurant and a wellness centre with Spa, hammam and heated indoor pool. Why book – a short walk from the Old Town and Tours train station, heated indoor pool, private parking

Les Trésorières is an excellent choice for an upscale stay in Tours. Central quiet location and bright spacious room. A great wellness area, featuring a hammam, sauna and an indoor pool. Why book – at walking distance to the Old Town and Tours train station, indoor pool, parking nearby

Getting around in Tours, France

Find here a detailed map of this Tours walking itinerary.

The Old Town of Tours is very compact and you can easily explore it by walking in less than an hour.

How to get to Tours, France

Tours is well connected to other major cities in France by train. For example, it’s less than a 2 hours journey from Paris Gare Montparnasse. Tours station (Gare de Tours) is the city’s main railway station. It’s located just a short walk from the Old Town.

Check timetables and book train tickets online at SNCF official website .

Tours is divided into three different types of zones – red, orange and blue. The first two are limited to 3 hours of parking, while the blue one – to 5 hours. However, parking in the Old Town is free on Sundays and Monday – Saturday (between 12 PM – 2 PM and 6:30 PM – 9 AM).

If you’re arriving by car I’d recommend booking a hotel with parking or using any of the paid car parks in the city centre (see a list of all car parks here ).

Day trips from Tours, France

Loire valley chateaux.

The central location of Tours makes it a great base to explore the chateaux of Loire Valley. You’ll find a few of the most popular castles just a short train ride away. For more information, take a look at my guide on how to visit the Loire Valley .

Here are the most famous chateaux you can visit near Tours:

• Château de Chenonceau – known as Château des Dames, it’s the most beautiful Renaissance castle of Loire Valley
• Château de Chambord – this royal residence is one of the largest chateaux in France
• Château de Blois – home to 7 kings and 10 queens of France between the 13th and 17th centuries
• Château d’Amboise – the place where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years and where he is buried
• Château de Chaumont – a fairytale 10th-century castle, once home to Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers
• Château de Villandry – is known for its beautiful French Gardens, which consist of several terraces of renaissance gardens

Blois is one of the most charming towns in the Loire Valley. The city is known for its royal chateau and the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, a Gothic masterpiece. For more information, take a look at my travel guide on how to spend one day in Blois .

How to get to Blois Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare de Blois – Chambord (40min journey). From there, it’s a 10min walk to the Old Town and the chateau.

Located just a short train ride away, Angers is a great option for a day trip from Tours. The city is famous for its castle, the ancient seat of the Plantagenet dynasty and the Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world. Find out more in my travel guide to the best things to do in Angers .

How to get to Angers Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare d’Angers Saint-Laud (50min journey). From the central train station, it’s about a 10min walk to the city centre.

How many days in Tours, France

Is one day in tours enough.

The city of Tours can be easily visited in less than a day. In fact, most of the people come not for sightseeing but to use the city as a base to explore the nearby castles. Still, there is plenty to see, so dedicate at least half a day to this charming town.

Best time to visit Tours, France

If you intend to visit Tours as a part of your Loire Valley trip, do it in the months of May, June or September. Crowds are fewer and the weather is not hot, but nice and warm.

Faqs about visiting Tours, France

Tours is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is worth visiting not only for the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn, but also for the picturesque half-timbered houses. Thanks to its central location, the city is an excellent base to explore the castles of the Loire Valley.

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About the author

Thank you for the blog which covers Tours in depth. We are travelling On Nov 07th to Blois to see three castles and unfortunately all public transport stops on Nov 05th. We don’t have car. Apart from Taxi any other alternate solution ?

Many Thanks -Yoga

Unfortunately, there is no other option, but a taxi. However, there are still a lot of castles, which are are reachable by train – Château de Chenonceau, Château de Blois, Château de Chaumont, Château d’Amboise, Château d’Angers, Château de Langeais, Château de Saumur, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Loches, Château de Chinon and Château de Meung-sur-Loire.

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Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Indre-et-Loire

Now the capital of Touraine , Tours was the capital of the kingdom of France in the 15th and 16th centuries. The city has kept many traces of its past and invites you to discover them. A very lively neighbourhood, the old town and its famous Place Plumereau are the beating heart of Tours. Lined with half-timbered houses and mansions, this pedestrian square is brimming with restaurants and cafés. Also discover the city's flagship monument, the Gothic Cathedral of St. Gatianus with a richly decorated Flamboyant façade. Inside, you can see a 13th-century choir, admire splendid stained glass windows from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, and see the tombs of the children of Charles VIII. Adjacent to the cathedral, the Psalette Cloister is composed of three galleries combining Flamboyant and Renaissance architecture. Tours' old town also includes the royal castle. One famous figure who spent time there was Joan of Arc, following her victory in Orleans. Today, it is a mecca for contemporary art.

Art and history enthusiasts should check out the city's various museums. Situated in the Goüin mansion with its Renaissance architecture, the Touraine Archaeological Museum documents the history of the region from Prehistory to the 18th century. The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the former Archbishops' Palace and exhibits works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. If you are a lover of fine vintages, the Touraine Wine Museum should appeal to you.

Then enjoy a little free time in one of the city's green spaces. The lush, verdant Prébendes d'Oé garden is ideal for a stroll. It is one of six Touraine gardens classified as "Remarkable Gardens". The Gloriette Park, meanwhile, is ideal for various outdoor activities and hosts many events such as the kite festival or music festivals.

We cannot talk about Tours without mentioning its wide range of entertainment for visitors. For instance the Light Trail (Parcours Lumière): over one kilometre, illuminated monuments tell the history of the city. In the summer, the Renaissance Nights offer a sound and light show projected onto the façades of the Museum of Fine Arts. Also worth mentioning is the summer guinguette (open-air café event) with its range of entertainment for young and old alike, which is always a great success.

Additional information Tours

City Tours is situated on the banks of the royal river, in the heart of the Loire Valley World Heritage listed by UNESCO. Capital of the kingdom from 1450 to 1550, the city of Gauls, The Turones, has never ceased to grow demographically and economically.

Originally small Gallo-Roman town perched on a hill protected from river floods, the city of Tours will spread more and more to join the Cher (a tributary of the Loire flowing 3 km further south) . With its port, the city of Tours will acquire great wealth allowing him to build one of the largest basilicas of the age: the Basilica of St. Martin. Destroyed, the fact remains today that two traces, the two towers: the Clock in the West, where stood the entrance, and Charlemagne Tower, 100 meters to the east, in the rue des Halles, paver color symbolize the floor where the pillars that supported the building.

Top Christian pilgrimage during the Middle Ages, the cult of St. Martin will give the city an international reputation. And through waterways (mainly the Loire), the influx of many craftsmen will give rise to huge fairs.

During the Renaissance, Tours and the Loire Valley in general will be the center of the kingdom of France, geographically, culturally, economically and politically. Also becoming a mecca for leather tanning.

Aristocratic city in the empire, here and there with beautiful homes will be built in the district including Prébendes.

The arrival of the train will cause many changes in economic and philosophical. Station and City Hall were built by the famous architect Victor Laloux (he has also the Gare d'Orsay in Paris, now converted into a Museum of Arts of the nineteenth).

Partly destroyed during the Second World War, the city will benefit from American assistance for the reconstruction of the city, in honor of this precious help, the old stone bridge rebuilt by the GI's will be renamed Wilson Bridge, the behalf of the President of the United States at the time (also located on the fountains and other library are gifts from the USA). Will follow the war boom and major urban projects of the iconic mayor (and deputy minister) Jean Royer: Congress Centre Vinci, HLM banks of the Cher, Two Lions Technopole.

Nougat (round cake made with almonds and candied fruit) is a specialty of the city. The other specialty is rillette Tours.

Things to see and do

• The historic district of medieval and Renaissance houses.
• Plumereau square with its cafés, always lively.
• The hotel Goüin.
• The Museum of Fine Arts and majestic cedar of Lebanon.
• The Museum of Companionship, unique in France.
• The area of the Cathedral Saint -Gatien.
• The Basilica of St. Martin.
• The Garden of Prébendes of Oë and beautiful magnolias.
• The Botanical Garden and the old buildings Bretonneau Hospital.
• Houses and Art Deco buildings, but also Haussmann style.
• City Hall and the Courthouse Place Jean Jaures.
• The park and the neighborhood of St. Radegund.
• The lake ( no swimming but sailing club ).
• The pool at the lake with his 5 outdoor pools / indoor (play pool for children, relaxation pools with massage jets, whirlpools, river rapids, slides and other traditional pools of different depths).
• The rink and the Palais des Sports, which frequently host events.

Leisure activities

Places of interest, events and festivities.

• Frequently garlic.
• Great flea market of Tours.
• Vitiloire .
• Tours sur Loire
• The Vocal Anthology.
• La Biennale Rays costs.
• The holidays Musical Touraine .
• The Academy Francis Poulenc.
• Aucard of Tours.
• Film Festivals: Bad gender, Night Studio.
• A Festival of Bubbles Tours.
• Emergence Festival (jazz).
• Total Meeting Festival (electronic music).
• Paris-Tours: cycling.
• 10 and 20 km from Tours.
• Christmas Market.
• From 3 to 12 may 2024
• Avenue Camille Chautemps
• As a major regional event, the Tours fair welcomes more than 300,000 visitors, seduced by the free admission to this event and by the products or services offered by the 700 exhibitors. Alongside the commercial space, a large gastronomic village meets with great success every year !
• From 25 to 26 may 2024
• Boulevard Heurteloup
• 35,000 visitors are expected in front of Tours train station for Vitiloire ! With nearly 150 exhibitors, winegrowers and food artisans, Vitiloire is the essential event in the Centre-Val de Loire region for Loire Valley wines. It is also an opportunity to discover the latest culinary trends.
• From 4 to 8 june 2024
• 33 route de Savonnières
• Let the show begin ! From the Chapit'auc to the Gloriette and Apérocks in local bars, with the sound on high and a touch of the wild, this combination of genres and generations has been a hit since 1986.
• From 28 to 30 june 2024
• Discover the world of manga, Japanese traditions and geek culture during an exceptional festival ! A weekend at the rhythm of the setting sun, not to be missed. - The biggest fair of the region, with animations and concerts for all as well as exceptional meetings !
• On 26 july 2024
• This tradition is said to date back to the Middle Ages. On Saint Anne day, July 26th, garlic and basil producers and enthusiasts come together for an event in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Tours. Colours ranging from white, pink and green will highlight your stroll among the …

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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

• Castles: Azay-le Rideau , Amboise , Chenonceau, Langeais , Chambord, Cheverny ...
• The Gardens of Villandry Castle Rivau, Valmer Castle, the Chatonnière.
• The cellars in Tours-sur-Loire, Vouvray , Bourgueil , Chinon .
• The valley of Goupillères troglodyte.
• The Houses of writers (Ronsard, Rabelais, Balzac ...).
• For children: tree climbing, karting, cycling ("Loire by bike") aquarium.
• For larger golf, rowing, canoeing ...

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

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Home » Travel Guides » France » 15 Best Things to Do in Tours (France)

15 Best Things to Do in Tours (France)

It’s no mystery that Tours is a favourite base for people discovering the Loire Valley’s exalted châteaux.

Villandry, Chenonceau and Amboise are moments by car, and with the help of the Loire à Vélo network you can visit them on two wheels with ease.

But you may find that if you delve a little more into Tours’ history and attractions, it could be difficult to leave the city at all.

In the centre are timber houses and renaissance mansions on car-free streets, and museums that draw you into the city’s medieval past.

There are vineyards welcoming inquisitive oenophiles in the countryside and both the waters and banks of the Loire invite you to go wherever your sense of curiosity leads.

Lets explore the best things to do in Tours :

1. Tours Cathedral

Even by the glacial speed of construction in the middle ages, Tours Cathedral took a long time to be completed.

Building began in 1170 and wouldn’t be finished until 1547, but this means we’re met with a perfect summary of the evolution of gothic art.

The ensemble of original 13th-century stained glass windows in the ambulatory chapels and above the choir is one of the finest in France, and seems to generate its own light.

The cathedral has information panels giving you the meaning behind each image.

The marble renaissance tombs of King Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany’s children are also moving, as both died in infancy.

2. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

The riches from Cardinal Richelieu’s 17th-century campaign against the Huguenots and the art seized from abbeys during the Revolution all ended up at Tours’ stellar museum of fine art.

Because of their religious source there’s a good body of Italian gothic primitives from the 14th and 15th centuries, while the two renaissance paintings by Andrea Mentegna are regarded as masterpieces.

You’ve got over a thousand artworks to get through, with sculpture by Rodin, Flemish and Dutch painting by Rembrandt and Rubens, and Impressionism by Monet and Degas.

3. Tours Botanical Garden

The city’s municipal garden has a bit of a troublesome setting, between the Loire and Cher, which made it susceptible to flooding in the past, with two devastating inundations in the mid-19th century that filled the greenhouses with two metres of water.

Even after being hit by bombs in the Second World War there isn’t the slightest hint of a troubled past at these serene gardens.

On your walk you may notice some trees you haven’t seen before, like the Chinese empress tree, ginkgo biloba and the endangered dawn redwood.

The animal park is from 1863 and has farm animals for kids to bond with, as well as more exotic species like wallabies.

4. Le Vieux Tours

Like all the best historic city centres the historic buildings on the pedestrian streets around Place Plumereau aren’t sterile museum pieces but vibrant cornerstones of local life, used as shops, restaurants and bars.

Place de Plumereau is at the nerve centre of one of the largest conservation areas in Europe, with renaissance mansions boasting sculpted reliefs or cantilevered timber houses, going strong for hundreds of years.

If you’re OK with everybody knowing you’re a tourist, jump aboard the little train that departs every hour from Place Plumereau in summer.

5. Musée du Compagnonnage

In the 16th-century Dormitory at the former Abbey of Saint-Julien is a museum devoted to a French workers’ movement that dates back to medieval times.

Roughly, the Compagnons du Tour de France is like a guild of journeymen that preserves historic trades and educates young people about them as part of an apprenticeship.

To complete the apprenticeship and become a “companion” a craftsman had to create a masterpiece for whatever discipline he worked in.

And these dumbfounding creations are presented at the museum, in all kinds of different disciplines, like metalwork, tailoring, shoemaking and woodcarving.

6. Hôtel Goüin

What may be the most beautiful of Tours’ many old building has just come through a long restoration and is open to the public once more.

Hôtel Goüin is an early-renaissance palace on Rue du Commerce, with a balustraded porch and the sort of loggia in which you might expect to see Juliet calling for Romeo.

During the restoration they unearthed fragments of an older building from the 1100s, with four arches and a well, which are on show.

You might just want to stop for a photo of that magnificent facade, but there’s an archaeological museum inside with artefacts from Roman times up to the 1800s.

7. Halles de Tours

Billed as the “Belly of Tours” (ventre de Tours), the city’s indoor market may not be France’s largest, but it’s a gastronome’s idea of heaven.

You may even want to bring your camera or have your phone at the ready, because the cheese, charcuterie, seafood and in-season fruit and vegetable counters are presented with real flair.

If you’re stuck for gift ideas then markets like this tick the box as they’re stocked with all the best from the region.

At Tours that entails wine from the Loire Valley and luxury chocolate.

The city is one of France’s chocolate capitals, and every years holds the Salon du Chocolat de Tours at the Centre de Congrès Vinci.

Come for lunch too: The oyster bar shucks your oyster as you go.

8. Jardin des Prébendes d’Oé

During the French Second Empire from the mid-1800s English-style parks like this one popped up in provincial cities across France.

This was a spot for urban families to take promenades, kids to play and for the city to put on outdoor concerts at the park’s gazebo.

There’s less of the formality of French parterres, as paths weave through tulip flowerbeds and  copses of lime, plane, cedar, chestnut and lofty redwood trees.

So if you could do with a moment of repose take a wander by the pond and pause for a tea or coffee at the kiosk.

On warmer days you could load up on cheese and charcuterie at the market and have the perfect French picnic.

9. Église Saint-Julien de Tours

The predecessors of this  12th-century abbey were wrecked by the Normans in the 9th century and then in a war between the feudal houses of Blois and Anjou in the 10th century.

But miraculously the building that followed has survived everything from the French Revolution to the Second World War.

It was part of a long-gone abbey, and the garden next to the church is where the cloister used to be, while the Musée de Compagnonnage occupies the old dormitory.

10. “Toue” River Cruises

Commercial craft floated along the Loire and Cher since antiquity, hauling people, wine, silk, lumber, salt and all sorts of other cargo up and down these rivers.

Because the waterways can get very shallow they used flat-bottomed sailboats called “toues”, and you can too! Toues can carry between 12 and 30 passengers for hour-long trips, or even romantic dinner cruises in the evening.

Their skippers know these waters and banks like the backs of their hands: And with the deck as your balcony, they’ll shed light on the Tours’ river trade, its many colourful characters and perils.

11. Loire à Vélo

If you had to picture some quintessentially French holiday activities, a bike ride next to the Loire with a backdrop of gentle vine-striped hills and châteaux must be one of the first that comes to mind.

About 150km of the of the Loire à Vélo cycle trail’s totalling 800km are in the Touraine region.

The route is clearly-marked, easy -going because it never leaves the riverside and convenient as there are dozens of hire stations along the way.

You could give yourself set destinations like Amboise or Villandry, which are both reachable in about an hour.

Or make more of an adventure of it by going further afield and spending the night at the inns on the route that are happy to accommodate cyclists.

12. Guinguette sur Loire

On the left bank of the Loire, just by Pont Wilson, is where Tours’ “Guinguette” takes place from May to September.

It isn’t officially summer in Tours until this outdoor café by the river is bustling every evening with locals and tourists at the bar terrace, taking part in dance lessons, enjoying concerts or watching movies at the outdoor cinema.

Tours is a student city so the atmosphere is always warm and energetic.

The location is wonderful, under willow trees and string lights, with the river rolling past.

And every year there Guinguette has something new on the schedule.

13. Wine and Gastronmic Visits

If you’re a wine-lover you’ve come to the right place.

There’s an absurd amount of AOCs nearby: A dozen within an hour, and five bordering the city.

The diversity will make your head spin more than the wine itself, with the reds of Touraine-Chenonceau, the whites of Touraine Sauvignon and rosés made in Touraine noble joué.

When it comes to precious foodstuffs there’s a saffron market in Preuilly-sur-Claise and a seasonal truffle market at Marigny-Marmande.

The local cheese, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine is known to all for its cylindrical shape and the straw that pierces it through the centre.

To know more, pay a visit to the dairy at Les Passerelles or the child-friendly goat farm, Cabri au Lait, which makes Sainte-Maure but also has a petting zoo for the little guys and girls.

14. Château de Villandry

It would be criminal to visit Tours and not call in at one of the abundant château in the region.

Tours is touted as a gateway for these sensational pieces of French royal or noble heritage.

You can reach Villandry in 20 minutes, and it’s one of the finest.

The gardens are the showstopper at this château.

They were restored at the turn of the century by the Spanish doctor Joachim Carvallo.

He conceived several terraces of renaissance gardens, all with precisely trimmed boxwood hedges in joyous geometric configurations.

There’s a water garden, labyrinth, sun garden, ornamental garden with high hedges, but the most astounding is the formal medieval kitchen garden, all in neat plots.

15. Château d’Amboise

The home of Francis I and most of the French royalty in the 16th century is a 20-minute car or train ride to the east.

The château had its heyday in the renaissance period after Charles VIII turned it from a fortress into the Loire valley’s first Italian-style palace in the late-1400s.

In 1516 Francis I invited Leonardo da Vinci to live and work in Amboise, and the polymath’s home at Clos Lucé was actually connected to the Château d’Amboise by underground passageways that you can discover today by prior arrangement.

Da Vinci died here in 1519 and is buried at the Chapel of Saint-Hubert at the Château.

The gardens are embellished with spherical topiaries and the views from this spur above the Loire are divine.

15 Best Things to Do in Tours (France):

• Tours Cathedral
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours
• Tours Botanical Garden
• Le Vieux Tours
• Musée du Compagnonnage
• Hôtel Goüin
• Halles de Tours
• Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé
• Église Saint-Julien de Tours
• "Toue" River Cruises
• Loire à Vélo
• Guinguette sur Loire
• Wine and Gastronmic Visits
• Château de Villandry
• Château d'Amboise

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provides visitors with an exceptional historic, architectural and natural heritage. The Loire and its tributaries have shaped the landscape and given the region its rich soil. From the monumental Loire Valley to the light-filled countryside, between vineyard landscapes and charming villages, each area has its own special identity. Visitors can explore Tours and such major landmarks as Amboise, Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau and Langeais, or the medieval towns of Chinon and Loches…

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Amboise Chenonceaux

Amboise and Chenonceau are among the greatest flagships of the French cultural heritage, while Vouvray and Montlouis are truly prestigious wine regions – the kings of France who lived here certainly had good taste!

The capital of the Loire Valley, the city of Tours opens the way to Villandry and its incomparable gardens, as well as to the historic districts, filled with life and charm, the festive Loire river banks, a rich cultural life and a wonderful range of shops for the queens of shopping.

Azay-Chinon region

The Renaissance town of Azay-le-Rideau, at the heart of the Indre Valley, so dear to Honoré de Balzac; Chinon, the convivial winemaking town with its towering fortress; Richelieu, the ideal of a 17th century town; the emblematic cheese of Sainte Maure - this region is an enchantment for fans of culture and gastronomy!

Langeais - Bourgueil: Touraine Nature

Langeais, a medieval and Renaissance town, welcomes visitors with its drawbridge in an area of forests and vineyards. The red and rosé wines of Bourgueil and St Nicolas de Bourgueil can be shared in the tuffeau stone wine cellars, while on the edge of Anjou, Gizeux the family château in the countryside is an invitation to take your time, before going on to Hommes for a swim in the open air, a great experience on warm days.

Loches Touraine Loire Châteaux

Loches and its royal lodge; Montrésor, one of the most beautiful villages in France; Chédigny the adorable garden city; Le Grand-Pressigny, an emblem of prehistoric times – the countryside in the south of Touraine is a great experience, with its magnificent starry night skies.

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