Tours City Guide
The city of Tours is in the Loire Valley, and is a lively city with a rich history. Tours provides an ideal base to explore the Loire Valley, but Tours is also a lively city, with beautiful medieval and renaissance architecture.
Tours is 1 hour from Paris by train.
What to do and see in and around Tours
St Gatien Cathedral
St Gatien Cathedral is on the place St Gatien, named after the 3rd century St Gatien. The Gothic Cathedral dates back to the 13th century, and the tombs of Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne's two children are in the crypt. Don't miss the beautiful 13th century stained glass windows.
Musée des Beaux Arts
The Musée des Beaux Arts is housed in the former Archbishop's Palace close to the Cathedral. The collection includes furniture, French paintings, and prints from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Highlights of the collection include works by Monet, and Rembrandt's "Flight into Egypt".
Tours Old Quarter
Tours Old Quarter runs around place Plumereau, and consists of a network of small streets lined with Medieval and Renaissance house and buildings. Visit the Écoles des Langues Vivantes to see the charming dogs, drunks and frog sculptures. Hidden in the old quarter is the Musée du Gemmail - a museum dedicated to the art of stained glass, including works by Picasso and Cocteau.
Tours Markets
Tours hosts over 30 street markets throughout the town. There are traditional markets every day apart from Monday. Flower, antiques, food, and craft markets run throughout the week. At the end of July there is a basil and garlic market, and in December Tours holds a Christmas market.
Musée de Compagnonnage
The Musée de Compagnonnage is on rue Nationale - Tours' main street, and is housed in an 11th century guest house. The museum commemorates the men who built the chateaux and cathedral in Tours and the surrounding areas. The museum contains samples of the various building craft works, including locks, carpentry and masonry.
Loire Valley Chateaux
Tours is an excellent base from which to visit the Chateaux of the Loire Valley, and Tours tourist office offers a variety of trips around the Loire Valley from Tours. Visit the chateaux by minibus, balloon or helicopter!
Angers
1 hour from Tours by train
Angers is a pretty town, built from the local dark slate and stone. Angers is famous for its medieval fortress château which houses the Tapestry of the Apocalypse woven in the 14th century. On the other side of the river is La Doutre medieval district, the Musée Jean Lurçat houses Anger's other famous tapestry series - La Chant du Monde designed in 1957.
Le Mans
1 hour from Tours by train
Le Mans is famous for the 24 hour Le Mans Car race in June every year, but the town is charming and lively throughout the rest of the year. The old town contains medieval and renaissance buildings set along narrow winding streets, all surrounded by well preserved 3rd or 4th century Gallo-Roman walls. The car track circuits are south of the city, and car fans should also visit the Musée de l'Automobile.
Amboise
20 minutes from Tours by train
Leonardo da Vinci lived in Amboise, and his house - Clos-Lucé - is now home to a permanent Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, containing models of his inventions. Amboise also contains the remains of King Charles VIII's chateau - where he was killed by the door lintel.
Send to a Friend
Email Newsletter
Subscribe to the railbookers.com newsletter for all our latest special offers and news.
