maps tours france

Turn your dream vacation into reality

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.

Follow now for exclusive content

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.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

I accept the privacy policy

Post Comment

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 .

Photos of Tours

Click any picture to start the gallery

Arrange a visit to Tours

Book hotels, car hire and flights.

• Book a visit

Hotels in Tours

Booking.com: best prices

Reserve excursions

Map of tours and places nearby, visit near tours with france this way reviews.

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)

French Places

We can help you visit any town, village or region of France...

Popular & Useful

① Ideas & inspiration ② Maps of France ③ Explore by region ④ Route planner ⑤ Places (by dept.)

France This Way copyright 2006 - 2024

• Cookies & privacy
• Index of places

North America

South america, tours map — satellite images of tours, detailed map of tours and near places.

Do you like this map? Link to it or recommend it !

Register at Tours or add new placemark for Tours . Get your personal map homepage and much more for free.

Tours hotel reservations

Book hotel in tours online and save money.

• Tours hotels »
• Browse & Book hotels in France »
• Tours hotels – sortable list of all Tours hotels »

Tours hotels: low rates, no booking fees, no cancellation fees.

At Maplandia.com you won't be charged any booking fees, cancellation fees, or administration fees – the reservation service is free of charge . The reservation system is secure and your personal information and credit card is encrypted.

Tours hotels map

The location of each Tours hotel listed is shown on the detailed zoomable map. Moreover, Tours hotel map is available where all hotels in Tours are marked. You can easily choose your hotel by location.

Tours hotel reviews

Many photos and unbiased Tours hotel reviews written by real guests are provided to help you make your booking decision.

Tours hotel deals

Luxury hotels (including 5 star hotels and 4 star hotels) and cheap Tours hotels (with best discount rates and up-to-date hotel deals ) are both available in separate lists. Always bear in mind that with Maplandia.com and Booking.com the best price is guaranteed!

Selected Tours hotels

• Hotel Du Cygne (at 6 Rue Du Cygne in Tours)
• Hotel de L'Europe (at 12 Place Gén Leclerc in Tours)
• Séjours & Affaires Tours Léonard De Vinci (at 1 Place Francois Truffaut in Tours)
• Hôtel INN Tours Giraudeau (at 247 Rue Giraudeau in Tours)
• Hôtel Trianon Tours (at 57 Avenue de Grammont in Tours)
• Appôtel Michelet (at 55-57 Rue Michelet in Tours)
• La Héraudière (at 60, rue Ronsard in Tours)
• more Tours hotels »

Tours car rental

Compare tours car rental offers of 500+ suppliers, car hire tours and neighbourhood.

Car rental offices nearest to Tours the city centre. Compare Tours car rental offers by various suppliers.

• Tours City car rental (distanced approximately 1.2 km)
• Tours - Saint Pierre Des Corps car rental (distanced approximately 3.1 km)
• Tours Nord car rental (distanced approximately 4.0 km)
• Tours - Airport car rental (distanced approximately 5.3 km)
• Tours South car rental (distanced approximately 6.1 km)
• more offers and Tours car hiring guide »

Flights from airports close to Tours

Search and compare flights.

• Flights to nearby airports to Tours »
• Overview of flights to and from France »
• Flights search »

Compare prices on flights to and from the closest airports to Tours. We search through offers of more than 600 airlines and travel agents. When you find a deal you want, we provide link to the airline or travel agent to make your booking directly with them. No middlemen. No added fees. You always get the lowest price.

Airports in Tours and in the neighbourhood

Airports nearest to Tours are sorted by the distance to the airport from the city centre. Follow relate airport hotel guides for accommodation booking.

• Tours-St-Symphorien Airport (distanced approximately 6.4 km) – airport hotels
• Tours-Sorigny Airport (distanced approximately 13 km) – airport hotels
• Amboise Dierre Airport (distanced approximately 21 km) – airport hotels
• Blois-Le-Breuil Airport (distanced approximately 51 km) – airport hotels
• Loudun Airport (distanced approximately 59 km) – airport hotels

Tours 3D map in Google Earth

3d map of tours in france, get more out of tours map, add placemark to tours.

No placemark has been added to this place yet. You can add the first .

users registered in this area

No users is registered to this place. You can be the first .

recommend this page

If you would like to recommend this Tours map page to a friend, or if you just want to send yourself a reminder, here is the easy way to do it. Simply fill in the e-mail address and name of the person you wish to tell about Maplandia.com, your name and e-mail address (so they can reply to you with gracious thanks), and click the recommend button. The URL of this site will be included automatically. You may also enter an additional message that will be also included in the e-mail.

Tours google map link options

Link to us:.

There are several options how to link to our maps — including no elsewhere to find free google maps gazetteer search, ready to use on your website. Please choose in the list below and simply copy & paste mentioned HTML code into your page source code. Thank you for all links!

Tours google map text link

Tours google map image button link.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The map search box code must be pasted directly into web pages without modification. You are not allowed to alter any portion of the link code or change the layout or targeting for any reason.

small Tours google map image link

medium Tours google map image link

Large tours google map image link, latest placemarks.

• Alternative Cleaning Ltd in Aldershot, Hampshire County, South East, England, United Kingdom
• Alternative Cleaning Limited in Aldershot, Hampshire County, South East, England, United Kingdom
• National Review illumishare Gehlert in Aschaffenburg, Aschaffenburg, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany
• Diamond Cleaning Services in Etobicoke, Toronto Metropolitan Municipality, Ontario, Canada
• Roof Repairs Perth in Perth, Cambridge, Western Australia, Australia

random google map locations

• La Embocada in Nuflo de Chavez, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
• Shajiadian in Mizhi, Shaanxi, China

Maplandia.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with Google.

• Copyright © 2005–2016 maplandia.com . All rights reserved.
• XHTML & CSS

World Map » France » City » Tours » Large Detailed Map Of Tours

Large detailed map of Tours

You may download, print or use the above map for educational, personal and non-commercial purposes. Attribution is required. For any website, blog, scientific research or e-book, you must place a hyperlink (to this page) with an attribution next to the image used.

Maps of France

• France maps
• Ski resorts

Cities of France

• La Rochelle
• Carcassonne
• Montpellier
• Clermont-Ferrand
• Saint-Tropez
• Val d’Isère

Regions of France

• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
• Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
• Centre-Val de Loire
• Île-de-France
• Hauts-de-France
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• Pays de la Loire
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• North America Map
• South America Map
• Oceania Map

Popular Maps

• Australia Map
• Germany Map
• Singapore Map
• United Arab Emirates Map
• United Kingdom Map
• United States Map
• New York City Map
• Los Angeles Map

U.S. States

• California Map
• Colorado Map
• Florida Map
• Georgia Map
• Illinois Map
• New York Map
• North Carolina Map
• Virginia Map

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

• Extreme Spots
• Cities in 3D
• All countries

• Country selection
• Aix-en-Provence
• Albertville
• Alpe d Huez
• Aquitaine Region
• Carcassonne
• Disneyland Paris
• La Rochelle
• Languedoc-Roussillon
• Montpellier
• Morzine-Avoriaz
• Provence - Cote d'Azur
• Rhone-Alpes
• Saint-Tropez
• Val d Isere

• Hotels in Tours
• Guest houses
• Family rooms
• Budget hotels
• Luxurious hotels
• Bed & Breakfast

Detailed hi-res maps of Tours for download or print

Large interactive map of Tours with sights/services search

City tours, excursions and tickets in tours and surroundings, moving around in france - transportation.

Economy roadmap of France

Search for services, infrastructure and sights on map of Tours

Photogallery of Tours sightseeing

Our guide chapters over Tours

Cultural excursion through tours - things to see.

Travel guide to Tours

Detailed maps of neighbouring cities to tours.

Sending email...

Email sent!

You are using an out of date browser and this website will not function properly.

Please upgrade to Edge or Chrome browsers.

+33 (0)781586903

[email protected]

montblanctreks

• Dates & Prices

To win an 8-day guided trek in the Atlas Mountains, ENTER HERE!

Tour du Mont Blanc Map

If you look at a map of the area, the Mont Blanc range forms a compact mass of complex mountain structures, passable via a circular route making use of its surrounding valleys and relatively low level cols or mountain passes.

Traditionally, the Tour du Mont Blanc starts and finishes in the Chamonix Valley and moves anti-clockwise through France, Italy and Switzerland and returns in to the Chamonix valley for the last few days of the trek.

Over time, all manner of variants have been included. For example, Col de Tricot from Les Houches to Contamines or Fenetre d'Arpette from Champex-Lac to Trient. Often these variants make the Tour du Mont Blanc more challenging with more height gain and descent and tougher terrain.

The Tour du Mont Blanc full circuit is often undertaken in reverse and can seem very different when done in the opposite direction.

Scroll down to view the full circuit, easterly and westerly routes.

Tour du Mont Blanc Full Circuit Map

Approximately 170 kilometres in length with an accumulation of 9,500m of height gain. The Tour du Mont Blanc full circuit starts and finishes in the Chamonix valley the route circumnavigates the Mont Blanc Massif taking in some of the most spectacular alpine scenery through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Click the route sections on the map for more info

Chamonix to Les Houches

Distance: 13k | Height gain: +700m | Descent: -1500m

We commence the Tour Mont Blanc full trek from Chamonix taking the cable car to the Planpraz at 2000m, from here we take the TMB route to the Col du Brevent, Brevent 2525m and descend along the stunning ridge to Refuge Bel Lachat. From the refuge, we make the long and tough descent via Parc Merlet to Les Houches and our hotel accommodation for the night.

Accommodation

3* Hotel, private en-suite rooms, evening meal & breakfast

Guide notes:

This day often feels one of the toughest on the trek generally because people are not fully acclimatised. The descent can be punishing & is probably the most difficult during the trek due 1500m sustained down hill & at times rocky terrain. Walking poles are recommended to save the knees!

Les Houches to Les Contamines

Via Bionnassay: Distance: 15k | Height gain: +100m | Descent: -700m Via Col du Tricot: Distance: 13k | Height gain: +800m | Descent: -1300m

Our day starts with a cable car ride to the Bellevue 1802m with stunning views of the Mont Blanc range from high above the westerly end of the Chamonix valley. We then have a choice of routes to Les Contamines via Bionnassay and Chapel or the Col du Tricot and Chalets des Miage.

3* Hotel, private en-suite rooms, evening meal and breakfast

Day two and you are probably feeling a little tiered from the first day. The terrain is very different today, less rugged and more green as you will be trekking though high altitude pastureland. If you are trekking via the Col du Tricot check out the Blueberry pie at the Chalets des Miage, very memorable and delicious!

Les Contamines to Refuge Mottets

Distance: 20k | Height gain: +1500m | Descent: -900m

A great day ahead awaits and we make our ascent through three cols, Col du Bonhomme, Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and the Col des Fours 2665m. Descending steeply through the wild and remote landscape to Ville des Glaciers and our rest stop for the night at the atmospheric Refuge Mottets.

Dormitory (upgrade possible), evening meal & breakfast

On paper this looks like one of the longest and toughest days on the trek but don’t worry its very doable. There is a fair amount of height gain but it is integrated with sections of gentle terrain, which make the day more manageable. The key is to start early & allow plenty of time.

Refuge Mottets to Courmayeur

Distance: 14k | Height gain: +700m | Descent: -700m

By staying at the Refuge Mottets it gives us a great position below the Col du Seigne 2516m, although we climb steeply at times we soon find ourselves over the col and across French/Italian border into Italy. We then make a descent into the stunning Val Veny with easy walking through the hanging valleys to Lac Combal. From here we descend La Visaille and take the shuttle bus to Courmayeur.

3* Hotel, private en-suite rooms, B & B

One of my favourite days on the Tour du Mont Blanc, the views from the Col du Seigne is second to none! Once you are at the col and if the weather is right rest for a while and take in the far-reaching views in to Italy & Switzerland, just wonderful!

Courmayeur to Refuge Bonatti

Distance: 17k | Height gain: +750m | Descent: -50m

Fully refreshed we make our ascent to the Refuge Bertoni and enjoy amazing views of Mont Blanc and Courmayeur down below. We spend the rest of the day on a lofty traverse from high above the Val Ferret with stunning views of the Italian side of the Mont Blanc before reaching our accommodation at the beautiful Refuge Bonatti 2056m.

A steep but steady climb up to the Refuge Bertoni, it’s worth it because the coffee is fabulous & the views just stunning, elevenses’ here is a must! Fabulous views of some of the most famous peaks in the European Alps including Mont Blanc and the Grand Jorasses. And for the refuge Bonatti... its just fabulous, if the night is clear go our side after dinner and just 'be' in this impressive location.

Refuge Bonatti to La Fouly

Distance: 20k | Height gain: +900m | Descent: -1400m

An early start and a new country awaits, we continue through the Val Ferret to Arnuva before making our long ascent to the Grand Col Ferret 2537m via the Refugio Elena and the Italian/Swiss border. We then make a relatively easy and enjoyable descent via la Peule, Ferret to La Fouly and our hotel accommodation for the night.

3* Hotel private en-suite rooms, evening meal & breakfast

Again this day looks tough but the hard bits are nicely spaced with less challenging terrain & once at the Col stare in wonder at the view looking back at your last 3 days of trekking towards the Col du Seigne & over the boarder into Switzerland. The descent is long but at an easy angle & the path is good. Plenty of opportunity to stop for refreshments at Arnurva, Refuge Elena & La Peule.

La Fouly to Champex Lac

Distance: 18k | Height gain: +750m | Descent: -950m

An easy day in comparison walking in the beautiful Swiss Val Ferret. We then pass through the Swiss villages of Praz de Fort and Issert before make our ascent to the charming village of Champex-Lac and our resting place for the evening.

Auberge with private rooms & shared facilities, evening meal & breakfast

The Bovine route is a fabulous day not too tricky over lovely terrain. Lunch stop at the high alpine farm at Bovine is a must, you can purchase local food or even eat your own picnic on the terrace as long as you buy a drink. Amazing views across to Lac Leman & down the Rhone valley.

Champex Lac to Trient

An initial easy start to the day is to be had as we wind our way on easy paths to Plan de l'Au. We then climb up steadily to the Alpage Bovine 1987m and enjoy fabulous views over Martigny and the Swiss Valais. We spend the rest of the day making our descent to the Col du Forclaz 1526m with a final descent to Trient.

Auberge with private rooms and shared facilities, evening meal and breakfast

The Bovine route is a fabulous day not too tricky over lovely terrain. Lunch stop at the high alpine farm at Bovine is a must, you can purchase local food or even eat your own picnic on the terrace as long as you buy a drink. Amazing views across to Lac Leman and down the Rhone valley.

Trient to Argentière

Direct via the Col du Balme: Distance: 13k | Height gain: +900m | Descent: -900m Via Catogne & the Col du Balme: Distance: 15k | Height gain: +1000m | Descent: -1000m

Today we have two options as we can take the route directly to the Col du Balme from Trient or through alpine woodland to the Alpage of Tseppes, Catogne and on to the Col du Balme 2191m and the Swiss/French border. From the Col, we then make our descent to the hamlet of Le Tour and across pastureland to the village of Argentiere and our hotel accommodation for the evening.

4* Hotel private en-suite rooms, B & B

Personally unless the weather is bad take the route via Catogne, the views are far superior as one up high you take a lofty traverse with excellent views over towards Emossom dam & the Aiguille Rouges nature reserve.

Argentière to Chamonix

Distance: 14k | Height gain: +1200m | Descent: -500m

Our final day and a fitting end to the trek takes us back into the Aiguille Rouges to the stunning Lac des Cheserys and Lac Blanc 2352m. We then make a descent to Flegere and take the balcony path traversing high above the Chamonix valley to Planpraz at our starting point 11 days earlier completing the circuit. A final decent via the cable car back to Chamonix in time for a celebratory drink as you have just completed the Tour du Mont Blanc, one of the best multi day treks in the world. In the event of lift closures, we make our descent back to Chamonix via Flegere.

3* Hotel private en-suite rooms, B & B

A fitting end to the trek back in the Aiguille nature reserve with pristine views of the Mont Blanc massif and all its peaks and glaciers. Visiting the iconic Lac Blanc is a must and stop for refreshments in the refuge. It gets busy with day walkers in August so make an early start if possible.

• 1. Chamonix to Les Houches
• 2. Les Houches to Les Contamines
• 3. Les Contamines to Refuge Mottets
• 4. Refuge Mottets to Courmayeur
• 5. Courmayeur to Refuge Bonatti
• 6. Refuge Bonatti to La Fouly
• 7. La Fouly to Champex Lac
• 8. Champex Lac to Trient
• 9. Trient to Argentière
• 10. Argentière to Chamonix

Tour du Mont Blanc Easterly Circuit Map

The Tour Mont Blanc easterly trek starts in Courmayeur and takes in half of the classic route anti-clockwise to Chamonix. It is a 6 day trek that covers approximately 100 kilometers through the Italian, Swiss and French alps. This walking holiday in the alps is ideal for those wanting to experience the Tour du Mont Blanc in a shorter period of time.

We make our ascent to the Refuge Bertoni and enjoy amazing views of Mont Blanc and Courmayeur down below. We spend the rest of the day on a lofty traverse from high above the Val Ferret with stunning views of the Italian side of the Mont Blanc before reaching our accommodation at the beautiful Refuge Bonatti 2056m.

• 1. Courmayeur to Refuge Bonatti
• 2. Refuge Bonatti to La Fouly
• 3. La Fouly to Champex Lac
• 4. Champex Lac to Trient
• 5. Trient to Argentière
• 6. Argentière to Chamonix

Tour du Mont Blanc Westerly Circuit Map

The Tour du Mont Blanc westerly route starts in Chamonix and takes in half of the classic Tour du Mont Blanc route anti-clockwise to Courmayeur. The route covers approximately 70 kilometers through the French and Italian alps. This trekking holiday in the alps is ideal for those wanting to experience the Tour du Mont Blanc in a shorter period of time.

We commence the Tour Mont Blanc westerly trek from Chamonix taking the cable car to the Planpraz at 2000m, from here we take the TMB route to the Col du Brevent, Brevent 2525m and descend along the stunning ridge to Refuge Bel Lachat. From the refuge, we make the long and tough descent via Parc Merlet to Les Houches and our hotel accommodation for the night.

This day often feels one of the toughest on the trek generally because people are not fully acclimatised. The descent can be punishing and is probably the most difficult during the trek due 1500m sustained down hill & at times rocky terrain. Walking poles are recommended to save the knees!

Tour du Mont Blanc Profile

Sign up to Our Newsletter

Marketing permissions.

Mont Blanc Treks will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know if you are happy to receive emails from us by checking the box below.

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at [email protected]. We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

FLASH SALE💥   Book now for   up to 60% off!

Fully Guided Tours & Trips in France

• Normandy Fully Guided
• Loire Valley Fully Guided
• Dordogne Fully Guided

250+ Fully Guided tour packages in France with 2,238 reviews

• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

French Dream ( 6 days )

French Ring ( 11 days )

• In-depth Cultural

The Treasures of France including Normandy (8 Days)

"Visiting sites of great cultural interest/beauty and historical interest was a highlight." raymond, traveled in April 2019

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley (Classic, 8 Days)

"Top notch accommodations; very comfortable tour bus. Highly recommended." Kenneth, traveled in May 2023

Paris, Normandy and the Loire

"I am very pleased with choosing this tour of Paris, Loire Valley and Normandy. The transportation was very good." Florentina, traveled in June 2019

• River Cruise
• Wine tasting

Brilliant Bordeaux (2024) (Bordeaux to Bordeaux, 2024)

Paris Explorer (8 Days)

"Our guide, Jonathan, was fantastic." Deborah, traveled in March 2019

Journey: Paris & Normandy Highlights National Geographic Journeys

"We loved the itinerary and the extra sites we visited. Alexiane took care to provide for the needs of individuals on our tour." Kathleen, traveled in June 2023

Cycle Provence

• Hiking & Trekking
• Mountain Hikes

Mont Blanc Highlights

"Wonderful guided hikes, all different and amazing views. Tourradar really surpassed all my expectations." Lynda, traveled in August 2022

Paris & Normandy (2024) (Paris to Paris, 2024)

The Must-see Sights of the Seine Valley (port-to-port cruise)

"I was kept informed & on promptly basis. A very professional approach by your staff" Paul, traveled in August 2022

Rhône Route Classique 2024 - A-ROSA STELLA

"The buffet was very extensive and tasty. However, we would have preferred the French cuisine in France." Tammo, traveled in September 2023

The Loire Valley, a Royal legacy (port-to-port cruise)

Paris, Normandy, & Châteaux Country

"This tour was excellent and very well organized. Tour radar did an excellent job of communicating and managing payment for this trip." Terri, traveled in June 2023

What people love about Fully Guided Tours in France

Well organized. Bruno was a little difficult to understand at times. However he was well versed, patient and very approachable. Driver, Jojo, was excellent!

Wonderful tour. Top notch accommodations; very comfortable tour bus; courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guide and driver. Restaurant selections were fine and we had sufficient time to explore on our own. Highly recommended.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience, the driver was very experience with narrow streets, the guide went above and beyond to make sure we are comfortable, safe and enjoying our trip.

Top operators

"Need lot of improvement and organization, Need english speaking tour guides. The breakfast is horrible.

Europamundo is an expert in:

"Everything went so smoothly! Even a little rain couldn't damped our experience. Our tour guides were phenomenal! Best of all was the Hotel Bassano and their staff, Friendly, clean, accommodating and the morning breakfast fresh and a great way to start our day in Paris!

Flag Travel Holidays is an expert in:

"Wonderful guided hikes, all different and amazing views. Tourradar really surpassed all my expectations. From a wonderful hotel - stayed at Richemond Hotel, in the centre of town to the amazing prepared lunches and restaurant dinners to our wonderful and knowledgeable guide Nichole. Thank you Nicole for your energy, patience, calmness, and expertise both up and down each mountain adventure. You made our trip a wonderful

Intrepid Travel is an expert in:

Regions in France

• Northern France (209)
• Southern France (199)
• Provence (69)
• Normandy (58)
• Aquitaine & Midi Pyrenees (34)
• Alsace & Lorraine (33)
• Bordeaux & Dordogne (22)
• French Riviera (21)
• Burgundy (20)
• Loire Valley (16)
• Pays de la Loire (16)
• Ile de France (13)
• Champagne (8)
• Corsica (7)
• Beaujolais (6)

Travel Styles

• Fully Guided
• France Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 10 Day France Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• Best 7 Day France Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

Discover TourRadar

• Italy Tours
• Cornwall Tours
• Italy and Switzerland March 2025 tours
• Climb Kilimanjaro: 9 Days Machame Route
• Landscapes of Northern Spain & Portugal - 15 Days (Small Group)
• 3 Days Mikumi National Park
• 10 Best South America Backpacking Tours & Trips

The 6 Best France Tours For Unforgettable Adventures That Are Achievable & Affordable!

Posted on Last updated: October 13, 2023

Categories Tours , France

Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.

Located in northwest Europe, France is formally known as the French Republic, which is known throughout history as being one of the most significant countries in the western world. Ranked as one of the richest and most powerful countries in the western world, France has historically served as a gateway to southern Europe or the Mediterranean.

The country itself borders the Atlantic Ocean, the alps, the Pyrenees, and the Mediterranean. It also borders a total of six countries (Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. not to mention, France has a large presence of airports, ferry terminals, and an interconnected rail system makes France easily accessible and perhaps the gateway to Europe.

Tens of millions of tourists visit France annually making it one of the most visited countries in the world. Many cities in France are a thrill to explore but Paris seems to draw the largest crowd. France is a country of Passion and many are guaranteed to love it.

Many who return home from France, undoubtedly return with a love of France. The country of France is divided into 22 official regions. All of which have something unique and special to offer. 

France has an intense but interesting history. France is considered one of the oldest countries in the world. Historically France has taken the lead in almost every aspect of western culture including food, politics, philosophy, music, art, film, fashion, and sports.

History in France can be dated back to 200 B.C. it was the Romans who ruled the country for over 500 years until the 5th century, A.D. it wasn’t until 1770 when the famous Marie Antoinette married King Louis the 16th and became the last queen of France before the french revolution in 1789. Since then the country has flourished as a republic and has become one of the most powerful countries in the world. 

Now everyone knows France for Paris and yes Paris is an amazing place to visit or perhaps can be a bucket-list destination for some. However, there is so much more to France than just Paris. As specified earlier, France has 22 different regions to explore and each region offers something completely different from the next. If you haven’t already, watching films set in France is a good way to familiarize yourself with them.

Now you may be wondering since France is so accessible, why do I need to book a multiday tour when I can just plan it myself? Well, yes you could plan it yourself but it can be very overwhelming or time-consuming to figure out all of the best spots and regions you want to visit. Choosing different activities to partake in for your adventure can also be tough.

That’s why it’s recommended to leave it to the experts and let them plan your holiday. Perhaps choosing a multiday tour can even take you to places you’ve never even heard about or activities you didn’t know existed. Those are always the best adventures to have. 

So, much as we have done for the best Australia tours and best Guatemala tours , here we are going to be talking about one of the best France tours (and their operators), so you can be inspired – and then choose with confidence.

With that being said, here’s a look at the best tours in France!

Page Contents

Paris, Normandy, & Châteaux Country

Historical journey of provence – 6 days (small group), french dream, mountains & villages of corsica, paris and versailles, 3 day normandy, saint-malo, mont saint michel & loire valley castles.

It’s time you end your daily home routine and grabs your passport. Discover the treasure of France on this nine-day tour around one of the most visited countries in the world. You will see some of frances most beautiful landscapes, and pick the perfect bouquet from the many flower fields that cover the countryside like a blanket.

You’ll travel from the city of romance through the beachy town of Normandy and the Loire Valley to the beautiful flower fields. On this tour, you will also visit Claude Monet’s vibrant and enchanting gardens while visiting the castle corridors in the picturesque Châteaux region, and sip your way from the buzzing Parisian cafés to the famed French wineries.

On this tour, you will start and end your journey in the capital of France, Paris! You will take a total of nine days to explore the country and you’ll also visit 3 different regions of France.

With meals, transportation, lodging, and a knowledgeable guide completely included in the cost of the tour, you can book with ease as you won’t need to budget for much outside the tour itself. Here is a look at what your nine-day itinerary would look like in the beautiful country of France. 

Day One: Arrive in Paris, France

Day Two: Enjoy a day tour of Paris. 

Day Three:  Paris-Giverny-Rouen-Deauville

Day Four: Deauville–Normandy Beaches–Caen

Day Five: Caen–Bayeux–Mont St. Michel

Day Six:  Mont St. Michel–Angers–Loire Valley

Day Seven: Loire Valley. Excursion to Châteaux Country

Day Eight: Loire Valley–Paris

Day Nine: Departure from Paris. 

Enjoy nine days to explore some of the highlights of mainland France. Visiting some of the best destinations in the country, you will not be left disappointed and you will get a chance to see almost every side of France.

This tour is operated by Globus. A world-renowned tour operated with tours in many countries around the world and Dedicated to the traveler’s experience, this is one of the most reliable tour operators out there. Since 1928 Globus has been providing tours to travelers in need and has become of the most trusted tour operators.

You can count on Globus for your next adventure or perhaps your next french adventure. This tour is perfect for those looking to spend their time in some of the best regions of France without the hassle of having to plan anything yourself. 

Click Tours

Take in the smell of the fresh lavender fields and sip on some of the best french wine as you discover the southern french region of Provence.  Provence is often considered the heart of frances beauty.

Made up of small coastal towns rather than larger cities like Paris, the region of Provence is also described as fragrant, with beautiful beaches, intense natural beauty, jaw-dropping canyons, and deep caves which makes this place the ideal exploring grounds for adventurous travelers.

On this tour, you will start and end your journey in Aix-En-Provence! You’ll spend six days exploring the Provence region as you make your way through nine of the most beautiful french towns in Provence. This historical journey through Provence includes a professional guide, meals, transportation, and hotel accommodations.  Here’s a look at what your tour includes and what your itinerary would look like. 

Day One: Welcome to Avignon

Day Two:  Best of Provence: Avignon, Saint-Rémy, Les Beaux de Provence & Pont du Gard

Day Three: Train from Avignon to Aix en Provence

Day Four: Discovery day of Luberon Villages and the Charming Market

Day Five: At leisure to discover Aix en Provence & Aix en Provence city pass

Day Six: Departure day.

Enjoy the wonders of the Provence region on this six-day tour to discover the historical significance of Provence. On this tour, you will get a combination of action-packed days as well as more relaxing and slower ways to tour the area too! 

Operated by “Click Tours” which is considered a platinum operator, has exceptional reviews, award-winning guides, and tours to give travelers the best possible experience when traveling abroad. With a rating of 4.6 out of five stars, you can count on Click Tours to deliver some of the best tours in France. 

Europamundo

Are you ready to embark on a French dream tour through some of the top destinations within France? It’s time to discover France to the fullest and enjoy the stunning landscapes, culture, and people as you explore all four corners of France in detail. On this tour, you will also enjoy the perks of an English-speaking guide as well as insurance which is not typically covered on organized tours.

On this French Dream tour, you will spend five days touring the country of France. You’ll visit a total of 15 cities in France and you will start in the capital, Paris! This jam-packed itinerary includes the basics and then some with things like accommodations, a professional guide, insurance, meals, transportation, and much more! Here is a look at your five-day itinerary for this tour. 

Day One: Paris, Blois, Tours, Villandry, Amboise

Day Two:  Amboise, Chenonceaux, Chambord, Limoges

Day Three:  Limoges, Sarlat, Beynac Et Cazenac, Rocamadour

Day Four:  Rocamadour, Padirac Cave, Collonges La Rouge, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux

Day Five:  Bordeaux, Paris

This detailed five-day itinerary will keep you on your feet all day as you will be kept very busy. With 15 cities to explore, you will get the chance to see France in detail and not just Paris which is where most people exclusively visit while in France.

This tour can also be considered unique for its diverse ad busy itinerary. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in some “off the beaten path” excursions that aren’t huge tourist attractions just yet while exploring some more popular perhaps bucket-list attractions too. 

This tour is operated by Europamundo Tours, a gold badge tour operator based in Madrid, Spain. Europamundo Tours is focused on giving tourists the best experience possible by proving access to world-class guides and some of the best once-in-a-lifetime experiences in each country that you visit.

This tour operator has an overall rating of 3.9 out of five stars and is highly recommended by travelers. Overall if you don’t have much time to explore the country of France and you want to explore as much as possible this is the best tour for you. 

Exodus Travels

Considered not very well known by tourists, Corsica is a place full of stunning natural beauty, intriguing culture, and tasty food. Corsica is roughly 40km from the Pink granite summits and rests on the Mediterranean coast with the backdrop of the mountains nearby. On this tour, you will get to experience the mountains and the village to the fullest.

On this tour, you will start and end in Ajaccio, France with the chance to visit a total of five french cities over eight days. You can also book this tour with ease knowing your accommodations, expert guide, meals, and transportation are completely included in the cost of the tour. Here’s a detailed look at what your itinerary would look like over your eight-day Corsica Adventure.

Day One: Start Bocognano. (dinner)

Day Two: Train to Tavera; Woodland walk to ancient menhir (standing stone). Train back to Bocognano; Circular walk to Cascade du Voile de la Mariee. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day Three: Train journey to Vivario; walk to Tattone and onto the Vecchio River where it may be possible to swim. Ascend to Vizzavona and train to Bocognano. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day Four: Train to Corte; walk along the rugged Tavignano valley and back to the historic town of Corte. Return by train to Bocognano (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day Five:  Free day for an optional trip by train to Ajaccio and its beaches, or to relax in Bocognano. (Breakfast)

Day Six:  Train to Vizzavona from where we enjoy a walk along the famous GR20 to Bocca Palmente. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day Seven: Walk directly from the hotel to the Gravona River; walk along the Gorge of Richjusa and back to Bocognano. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day Eight: End Bocognano. (Breakfast)

Enjoy the underrated beauty of Corsica on this eight-day adventure through one of the most underrated cities in France. You’ll enjoy some of the best mountainous views as well as the natural beauty that is somewhat untouched compared to the rest of France. That’s truly what makes this tour so unique. The ability to connect with the beaten or perhaps untouched town carries a bold culture and an interesting dynamic.

Operated by Exodus Travel, a worldwide tour operator focused on giving travelers the best experience no matter where they go. Offering over 419 different trips around the world, exodus travel is a great tour operator to choose when looking for the perfect company to book through.

It’s always great to refer to traveler reviews when looking for the perfect tour. Exodus travel is highly recommended by travelers with a rating of 4.1 out of five stars and is one of the best tours on this list. 

a city of passion and intense beauty or perhaps the city of love and romance, Paris is a bucket-list destination for almost anyone and has become a dream for most to visit one day. The monument-lined streets, museums, clubs, and the view of the Eiffel tower throughout the city will give you that Parisian vibe and make you feel like you’re living in your Parisian fairytale.

On this five-day tour through Paris and Versailles, you will enjoy some of the best attractions within both cities as well as experience unforgettable hospitality you can’t experience anywhere else. You will enjoy guided tours of the Versailles Palace, the Louvre Museum, and the Eiffel Tower, and you will also take a relaxing cruise down the Seine River.

On this five-day tour, you will start and end your journey in Paris! Spend five days discovering the capital of France as well as the beautiful area of Versailles. Enjoy accommodations, an expert guide, meals, transportation, and much more as included in the price of your tour too! Here is a look at your five-day itinerary for this tour!

Day Two: visit the Quai de Branly Museum, the Pont de l’Alma, the Trocadéro square, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées,  Place de la Concorde,  the Tuileries Gardens, Louvre Museum, one-hour cruise along the Seine River and a visit to the  Eiffel Tower.

Day Three: Visit the Palace of Versailles.

Day Four: Free day to discover Paris on your own. 

Day Five: Departure from Paris.

Enjoy the highlights of Paris and Versailles on this five-day tour through some of the top sites within both regions. This tour includes all the main tourist attractions plus a free day to give you time to do things that maybe weren’t included on your tour that you wanted to do while in Paris.

The split between organized day trips and free time gives guests the ultimate sense of freedom when exploring a new country and this can make the experience more memorable for travelers hence this tour is unique. This tour is operated by Eskapas Tours. Although not very well known, Eskapas tours are one of the best tour operators in Europe for its dedication to travelers and the world itself.

Eskpas tours are passionate about its work and are dedicated to giving travelers the best possible tours available. With over 30 years of experience in tourism, Eskapas Tours is one of the most well-trusted tour operators in Europe and is rapidly growing in popularity over the last few years as travel itself booms.

Overall, we’re confident in this tour operator’s abilities to deliver a strong and well-organized tour. Hence this is one of the best tours in France. 

PARISCityVISION

Spend the next three days discovering the Normandy region of France. Although mainly associated with world war two, there is so much more to Normandy and so much to discover within the region. This tour will give you an equal mix of historical and new contemporary sites to give you not only the historical significance of the area but the new and chic side of Normandy too.

This tour allows you to see the Normandy Landing Beaches, Mont Saint Michel, Saint Malo, the three castles in Loire River Valley, and much more. This tour starts and ends in Paris too! You’ll get a chance to see a total of eleven different cities over three days.

You can also count on accommodation, a knowledgeable guide, meals, transport, and much more as included in the cost of this tour. Here is your three-day itinerary and the adventure that awaits you on this tour!

Day One: Guided Tour of Rouen, Honfleur & Normandy Landing Beaches

Day Two: Guided Sightseeing Tour of Saint-Malo and the Mont Saint-Michel cities

Day Three: Guided Sightseeing Tour of the Loire Valley Castles of Langeais, Chenonceau, and Wine Tasting

Enjoy this three-day getaway to the Normandy area of France to enjoy this action-packed tour of some of the best things to do and see within the region. You’ll enjoy three full days of discovering Normandy and all of the highlights of this region. 

This tour is operated by Paris City Vision which is a local company dedicated to showing off the best parts of France to travelers and tourists alike. Since 1929, Paris City Vision has worked closely with travel experts in France to deliver the most exciting tours around. Paris City Vision is absolutely a tour company you can trust while traveling in France and this tour itself should be at the top of your list when looking for the perfect french getaway. 

In conclusion, France is much more than just Paris and is a diverse country with so much to explore and see. With 22 different regions to experience, It can take you weeks to explore the country’s all four corners. Every region of France is different and has different cultures, traditions, and values from the next which makes France such an exciting country to visit.

You have so many different lifestyles, climates, and cultures at your fingertips to explore. Overall, France is considered elegant, charming and just waiting to share its full and true story with the world. Explore France, you won’t regret it. Visit france – Rendez Vous En France.

If none of these tours work for you in France, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.

Take a look at all the group tours in France now , which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates, and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.

Tourist attractions map  of France

Top sites, museums, historic and natural heritage sites.

• Explore France ►
• France in brief
• Plan your trip
• France on a budget
• Tourist map of France
• Staying in France
• Eating in France
• Climate & weather
• Camping in France
• Accueil en français
• Search About-France
• Paris for free
• Other main cities
• Choose a region
• Best of France
• The south of France
• The Dordogne
• The French seaside
• The Loire valley
• The Massif central
• Top attractions
• Heritage cities
• Best small towns
• Best of rural France
• Wild France
• Skiing & wintersports
• Find a hotel
• Driving in France
• Motorway services
• Routes from Calais
• Rules of the road
• Driving checklist
• Ferries to France
• Flying to France
• Rail travel in France
• Bus and coach travel
• Life in France
• French institutions
• The French language
• Vital words & phrases
• French grammar
• A-Z of French life
• Study in France

A map of the best places to see and visit in France.  Zoom in to separate markers

• Gites in France
• Bed and breakfast in France
• Rural campsites in France

Maps of Tours

Road map of tours, relief map of tours, administrative maps of tours, tours on the municipalities map of france.

Must-see attractions in Tours

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.

Tour de l’Horloge

One of the last vestiges of Tours' 13th-century, Romanesque Basilique St-Martin.

Tour Charlemagne

A vestige of Tours' 13th-century, Romanesque Basilique St-Martin.

Palais de Justice

Built in the 1840s, Tours' neoclassical courthouse has an imposing colonnade facing place Jean Jaurès.

Église St-Julien

Most of this Gothic church, once part of a Benedictine abbey, dates from the mid-1200s.

More destinations you need to see

Critérium du Dauphiné stage 4 Live – Evenepoel and Roglič square up in time trial

Tour de france 2022 route.

From Copenhagen to Paris, the full map of the 2022 Tour

The 2022 Tour de France starts on July 1 in Copenhagen, Denmark and ends in Paris on Sunday July 24 after 3328km of racing. The 21 days include every aspect of bike racing, which you can dissect in more detail in our Tour de France preview .

For the first time since 2017, the Tour begins with a city-centre time trial, the Copenhagen test followed up by two flat stages across the country from Roskilde to Nyborg and then south from Vejle to Sønderborg. The riders will fly to France on Sunday evening after stage 3 and enjoy an extra rest day before starting the real lap of France.

Copenhagen is arguably the best bike city in the world, where 1.4 million people a day travel by bike – more than in the whole of the USA. The Danish capital will celebrate cycling during the Grand Départ, with a party atmosphere expected for the opening time trial.

The 13.2km city-centre course includes 18 corners and visits the Little Mermaid and other landmarks but Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) will have little time to enjoy the views as he dives through the corners at close to 54kph.

The world time trial champion is the favourite to win and so pull on the first yellow jersey but should be challenged by Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and other time triallists willing to take risks in the corners.

The overall contenders will also be fighting for every second, with Primož Roglič hoping to gain a psychological advantage on Tadej Pogačar , while everyone else tries to limit their losses on the two Slovenians.

Following the rest day and the transfer to France, racing returns on Tuesday July 5 with stage 4 near the northern French coast via an inland loop between Dunkirk and Calais. The 171km stage includes several hills and the Cap Blanc Nez climb on the white cliffs just 10km from the finish.

Things get far more serious for the overall contenders on stage 5, which includes 11 sectors and a total 19.4km of Paris-Roubaix cobbles. They come in the second half of the 153.7km stage and could, like in previous years, cause crashes, significant time gaps, heartbreak and glory for the winner.  

Things gets serious in the Alps

After tackling the cobbles a 220km hilly stage in Lorraine lies in wait before the first summit finish of the race – the stage 7 test up to Super Planche des Belles Filles.

La Planche des Belles Filles was first climbed in the 2012 Tour de France when Chris Froome won the stage and Bradley Wiggins took the yellow jersey, and last in 2020 when Pogačar broke Roglič's heart. This year is again a ‘super’ Planche des Belles Filles finish, with the line atop the very peak of the mountain after an additional gravel track.

Two hilly transfer stages during the weekend take the Tour to Lausanne and Aigle in Switzerland before the second Monday rest day and a climb into the high Alps. Stage 10 is short at 148.1km but ends with a 19.2km climb to the summit finish on the Megève runway, where Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) won a stage at the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné.

Stage 11 is much tougher and includes the spectacular Lacets de Montvernier before the mighty Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier. The stage ends for just the second time in Tour history with a mountain finish on the Col du Granon. It is a breathtaking 2413m high and saw the battle royal between Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault in 1986.

Stage 12 is held on Bastille Day and will be a celebration of France as well as Grand Tour racing. The 165km stage returns to the Col du Galibier via the easier side and then climbs the Croix de Fer before celebrating the 70th anniversary of a finish on L’Alpe d’Huez and  Fausto Coppi’s victory in 1952.

The legendary hairpins will surely be packed again with fans from around the world as the likes of Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Romain Bardet (Team DSM) fight for a French stage win.

Heading to the Pyrenees and a closing time trial

The Tour route heads out of the Alps via Saint-Etienne and a finish on the Mende Plateau, where Steve Cummings famously won on Mandela Day for MTN-Qhubeka in 2015. Another long, hot transfer stage takes the peloton onto Carcassonne for the third rest day, with the Pyrenees in view as the riders try to rest up.  

Stage 16 to Foix in the foothills seems perfect for a breakaway before the back-to-back mountain-top finishes in Peyragudes and then Hautacam. Four passes are packed into the second half of the 129.7km stage 17, which finishes like in 2017 on the spectacular mountain runway finish at Peyragudes that featured in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

The final mountain stage of this year’s Tour comes on stage 18, and includes two Hors-Catégorie climbs – the Col d’Aubisque and the finish up to Hautacam - plus the mid-stage Col de Spandelles (10.3km at 8.3%). The 13.6km final climb up to Hautacam will be the last chance for the pure climbers to gain time before Saturday’s 40.7km time trial across the Lot department in Southwestern France.

Who knows who will have survived to this point and who remains in contention for overall victory and podium places. The time trial will decide the final placings, with the 1.5km climb up to the line on time trial bikes the final moment of drama in this year’s race.

As per tradition, the final stage around Paris on Sunday evening is a celebration of cycling, with only the sprinters and their lead-outs focused on the final sprint up the Champs Elysées.

This year’s final stage 115km stage is preceded by the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes, marking a symbolic but historic handover as the women’s cycling makes a huge step forward.      

For a breakdown of the individual stages of this year's Tour, visit our stages guide

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.

Tour of Britain Women 2024 route

Critérium du Dauphiné route

New Fulcrum Sharq all-road wheel review: Wonderful wavy wheels for big, fast miles

Most popular, latest on cyclingnews.

Fulcrum’s new Sharq wheels claim a 30% improvement in crosswind stability, aim to be the ultimate all-road wheelset

Astana Qazaqstan refuse to comment on report of Chinese buy-out

• International

US Jobs report

Russia's war in Ukraine

Hunter Biden's gun trial

D-Day 80th anniversary in Normandy

By Joshua Berlinger, Antoinette Radford, Shania Shelton and Kyle Feldscher, CNN

Our live coverage of the 80th anniversary of D-Day has ended. Read more about D-Day here or scroll through the posts on today's events below.

French President Emmanuel Macron: "Let us be worthy of those who landed here"

From CNN's Joshua Berlinger and Emmanuel Miculita in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron closed the international ceremony marking 80 years since D-Day with a speech honoring the soldiers who fought in the largest seaborne invasion in human history and, as other leaders have done throughout the day, drawing parallels to the current geopolitical unrest — most notably the war in Ukraine.

Perhaps the strongest part of Macron's speech was its end, in which he honored Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — who was in attendance — and the Ukrainian people's fight against Russia.

"Faced with the return of war to our continent, faced with the questioning of everything they fought for, faced with those who claim to change borders by force or rewrite history, let us be worthy of those who landed here. Your presence here today, Mr. President of Ukraine, says it all,” Macron said, followed by a brief interruption of the roar of a fighter jet flyover.

Europe has not seen the type of ground conflict that is raging in Ukraine since the end of World War II, and this year’s anniversary comes as Russian forces advance on the battlefield – handing Kyiv a series of tactical defeats and poking holes in the already fragile Western alliance opposed to the Kremlin’s war.

"We know that liberty is a fight for every morning," Macron added. "For everyone in this world that lives hoping for liberty, for equality, for fraternity the sixth of June is a day without end, a never-ending dawn."

World War II veteran dies while traveling to France for D-Day anniversary

From CNN’s Dakin Andone

Robert Persichitti, a 102-year-old World War II US Navy veteran, died last week while on his way to France to commemorate  the 80th anniversary of D-Day , according to Honor Flight Rochester, a veterans organization.

Persichitti was a “wonderful, pleasant, humble guy,” who was “easy to talk to,” said Honor Flight Rochester President and CEO Richard Stewart, who told CNN he learned of his friend’s death last Friday.

“We miss him,” said Stewart.

While Persichitti passed away bound for Normandy — where the Allied forces’  landing on June 6, 1944 , laid the foundation for the defeat of Nazi Germany — he served in the Pacific as a radioman aboard the USS Eldorado, Stewart said. His tour of duty included Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Guam, according to Stewart and  the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame , into which Persichitti was inducted in 2020.

Persichitti fell ill last week during a stop in Germany while headed for Normandy, Al DeCarlo, a friend who was traveling with Persichitti, told  CNN affiliate WHAM . Persichitti was airlifted to the hospital and died soon after, DeCarlo said.

“The doctor was with him. He was not alone, he was at peace and he was comfortable,” DeCarlo said. “She put his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, on her phone and he peacefully left us.”

Persichitti had heart problems in the past, “but for 102, I would say he was in superb health,” Stewart told CNN.

Persichitti was born in a coal mining town outside Pittsburgh, Stewart said, describing his friend's “humble, poor beginnings.” After the war, Persichitti worked as a carpentry teacher in Rochester, New York, according to the Veterans Hall of Fame, and in 1972 received a degree from SUNY Buffalo.

Trump posts tribute on 80th anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Former US President Donald Trump on Thursday posted a tribute to the “immortal heroes who landed at Normandy” to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. 

“Today, we honor the immortal heroes who landed at Normandy 80 years ago. The men of D-Day will live forever in history as among the bravest, noblest, and greatest Americans ever to walk the earth. They shed their blood, and thousands gave their lives, in defense of American Freedom. They are in our hearts today and for all time,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

France's Macron awards 3 more people the Legion of Honor

From CNN's Emmanuel Miculita and Joshua Berlinger in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron used the international ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day to award the Legion of Honor, France's highest military or civilian distinction, to three more American veterans: Joseph Miller, Richard Calvin Rung and Arlester Brown.

Earlier in the day, Macron awarded the Legion of Honor to Christian Lamb , a 104-year-old British woman credited with having made the maps for the D-Day landing, and 11 other American veterans.

Testimonials and musical performances are taking place during international ceremony

As the international ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Omaha Beach is underway, testimonials from those who fought in the war are currently being read out.

Along with the testimonials, musical performances are demonstrated in front of attendees.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to deliver an address later during the ceremony.

Austin says "Ukraine matters" in the midst of D-Day ceremonies

From CNN's Shania Shelton

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed Russia's war in Ukraine while participating in D-Day ceremonies, telling CNN's Wolf Blitzer that "Ukraine matters."

"I have engaged members of Congress on both sides, in both parties. I have seen throughout strong support for Ukraine, and even though it took a while to get the legislation through, I was confident that that the right thing was going to happen."

He continued, "Because anytime you see that type of support on both sides of the aisle for a cause, Congress will find a way to get things done, which is what they did in this case, because it's the right thing to do."

The international ceremony is underway

From CNN's Josh Berlinger in Paris

The international ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Omaha Beach has begun.

More than 20 heads of state and government and representatives from royal families across Europe are in attendance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at international ceremony to standing ovation

From CNN's Joshua Berlinger in Paris

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at Thursday's international ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day to a standing ovation and a rousing applause.

Zelensky's presence — and Russian leader Vladimir Putin's absence, despite Soviet Russia's key role in winning the war in Europe — is highly symbolic given how the war in Ukraine is casting a shadow over the day's events.

Several world leaders have already used their speeches to cast parallels between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the aggression of Nazi Germany that sparked World War II.

Watch the moment here:

Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.

Introducing Uber Bubbles in France

With more than 16M visitors expected in France this summer, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of Uber Bubbles – the first ever champagne tour bookable directly in the Uber app. T he latest exclusive experience in our ‘Go Anywhere’ series of travel products, it will be available all summer long, offering riders access to one of Europe’s most premium and iconic regions at the tap of a button.

In partnership with beloved champagne houses Perrier-Jouët and G.H. Mumm, Uber Bubbles puts the heart of France’s champagne region at your fingertips. The full day trip includes a 10:00am pickup in Paris in an Uber Bubbles-branded Tesla, with the first stop along the journey a champagne tasting of three cuvées and lunch at Perrier-Jouët’s Cellier Belle Époque in Épernay. Afterwards, riders will be whisked to Maison G.H. Mumm in Reims for a special cellar visit and a Cordon Rouge tasting before heading back to Paris for dropoff in the early evening. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Uber this summer to offer riders the chance to discover our Champagne Houses via Uber Bubbles,” said François-Xavier Morizot, VP Champagne for G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouët. “This is the perfect opportunity for travelers to enjoy the very best of our ‘bubbly’ experiences, including our beautiful cuvées, elevated gastronomy, and exceptional grounds, both in Épernay with Maison Perrier-Jouët and in Reims with G.H. Mumm.”

Reservations for the summer will become available in the Uber app on June 1, and will be bookable 75 days to 24 hours in advance. Uber Bubbles will run on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer, from June 7 to August 17. The experience will cost a €200 flat fee, and can accommodate up to four guests.

How to book Uber Bubbles:

• Download the Uber app on your smartphone and open the app.
• Select the ‘Uber Bubbles’ icon from the home screen.
• Read about Uber Bubbles and then choose an available date.
• Enter your pickup and dropoff locations.
• Make sure everything looks right and click ‘Reserve Uber Bubbles’
• Check your email to ensure you received a confirmation email.
• Within the confirmation email, click on the Google form and respond to each question to ensure the Maisons are ready for your reservation.
• Enjoy responsibly!

Availability of Uber Bubbles trips is expected to be limited. Riders looking to book a tour are encouraged to book in advance using our Reserve technology. Uber Bubbles will be visible to all riders in Paris.

Share this post

• Global citizenship
• Uber for Business
• Uber Freight

© 2024 Uber Technologies Inc.

Accessibility