Tours: medieval charm and bustling life

Tours sur Loire

In fine weather, another flagship venue emerges: the guinguette de Tours takes over the south bank of the Loire. Enjoy the sunshine on the terraces during the day, or dive into the beautiful atmosphere that settles in from early evening. A little quieter but just as friendly, Tours sur plage takes up its summer quarters on the other side of the Loire, on the north bank.

All the guinguettes

In the middle of the river

And while we’re on the subject of conviviality, also keep in mind the balades-apéros sur la Loire, aboard the traditional boats of the Boutavant association!

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Boutavant

©Tours by bike|ADT Touraine - JC Coutand

What can you visit in Tours city centre? Where to go for a walk in Tours?

Admire the masterfully ornamented facade of the cathédrale Saint-Gatien, a blend of flamboyant and radiant Gothic. Inside, your eyes will be caught by the collection of stained glass windows, but don’t miss the access to the Cloître de la Psalette. A place imbued with serenity, it inspired Honoré de Balzac: Tours was his birthplace.

Nearby, the collections of the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the exhibitions of the château de Tours in conjunction with the Jeu de Paume art centre in Paris may well pique your curiosity. Heading west via the pedestrianised, shopping-filled rue Colbert, you’ll find the church of Saint-Julien, the musée du compagnonnage, the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré, the hôtel Goüin, then the district of vieux Tours and its emblematic place Plumereau. Place du grand marché, don’t resist a selfie with the monster imagined by Xavier Veilhan.

Also discover all the history of Tours by pushing open the door of the Logis (Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre), place Chateauneuf. And don’t forget to check out the street art fresco nearby! Finally, after a final detour to the basilique Saint-Martin, it’s time to get your strength back under the halles de Tours or at one of the many restaurants.

Good deals

The Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office offers many themed guided tours, as well as 3 passes (24h / 48h / 72h) to fill up on tours.

Preparing your stay

Au coeur du Tours Historique

Musée du Compagnonnage

Duplex Béranger

La Fabrique du Botanique

Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré CCC OD

Paula

La Table du Château Belmont

Camping Onlycamp Tours Val de Loire

Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé

Le Bistrot des Belles Caves - Bar à vins

La Héraudière - chambres d'hôtes

La Roche le Roy

Cathédrale Saint-Gatien

L'Accalmie

Le Laurenty

Le Grand Hôtel

Château Belmont The Crest Collection

Basilique Saint-Martin

Museum of Fine Arts

Food Tours

Château de Tours

Muséum d'Histoire naturelle

Must-haves in Tours

From Place Jean Jaurès

Architect of the Musée d’Orsay, Victor Laloux is also behind the impressive town hall on Place Jean Jaurès, which stands next to the neoclassical architecture of the Palais de Justice, as well as the basilique Saint-Martin and the pretty Tours train station (1 hour by TGV to reach Paris; 2 hours to Nantes and 3 hours to Bordeaux).

From the elegant tramway descends a motley crowd rushing into the shops on rue de Bordeaux or rue nationale. Do as they do and push open the doors of the department stores (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps) and ready-to-wear boutiques.

Insolite

Discover the city of Tours in an original way with the puzzle games L’Enquête Tourangelle and Le Jeu des Dames. An idea often favoured for stag and hen parties!

The city of Tours A city to live in

Like the people of Touraine, you can take a breather in the green spaces that grace the city. Designed in the 19th century by the Bühler brothers and classified as an outstanding garden, the Prébendes d’Oé garden is a perfect example. By hiring a bike, take a tour of the parks and gardens, heading for the Ile Balzac, the lac de Tours, the jardin botanique, the parc de la Gloriette. Adjacent to the latter, the golf de la Gloriette driving range might just be the place for you to take your first swing!

Every week, the town also comes alive with sporting events. Watch the Tours volleyball team in the warm atmosphere of the Grenon hall at the Palais des Sports. The Tours club has the best record of success in France. Another sports outing for an evening: a match by the basketball team (the TMB), hockey (“les remparts”), at the Cher Valley stadium. What about rugby? That’s on Sunday afternoons, at the Tonnelé stadium!

Surprising!”

Get on board a vintage side-car with RétroTour and let us guide you through the city’s iconic streets for a unique ride, hair in the wind and anecdotes in tow. It’s an original way to see the city’s heritage in a whole new light! More of an active walker? Opt for a guided bike tour!

Leaving or arriving on a touring holiday

Located amidst the châteaux of the Loire Valley, the city of Tours welcomes long-distance walkers and cycle tourists alike. In particular, Tours is one of the 4 historic departure points for Santiago de Compostela (the Turonensis route). Other major routes include:
– On foot: GR®3 (La Loire sauvage), GR®41 (towards Montluçon) and GR®46 (towards Toulouse).
– On bike: La Loire à Vélo, the Scandibérique and Cœur de France à Vélo.

©Velos Gare De Tours Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2033 31|Jean-Christophe COUTAND MEHEUT

Explore the surrounding area Even without a car

Are you staying in Tours for several days? Take the opportunity to go visit the nuggets nearby, even without a car. In fact, that’s what foreign students who are learning our language in one of the French language schools regularly do.

By train, Amboise, Chenonceaux, Chinon, Langeais or Loches are easily accessible. Hire a bike and you’re off to the Prieuré Saint Cosme, the gardens of the château de Villandry or the gardens of Valmer.

Valmer: gardens and wines

Renaissance-inspired terraces, elegantly descending to the conservatory kitchen garden. Then a tasting of the estate’s AOC Vouvray wines. Yes, now that’s a nice objective for a stroll!

The major events of the year in Tours

March: fête des vins de Bourgueil, boulevard Heurteloup.
May: the foire de Tours.
June: Vitiloire (the great Loire wine festival!), the festival Aucard de Tours (contemporary music), and the Japan Tours Festival.
On 26 July, for Sainte-Anne: garlic and basil fair (historic festival, dating back to the Middle Ages), in old Tours.
August: Caesarodunum, historical re-enactment at Marmoutier Abbey.
September: the grande braderie and the Marathon Touraine Loire Valley.
October: autumn concerts.
November: salon l’art au quotidien au Palais des Congrès, and ferme expo (regional agriculture show) at the Tours exhibition centre.
December: the Christmas animations, in addition to Christmas in the land of castles.

Visit Tours on video Is Tours a beautiful city?

Get your own idea by discovering the Touraine metropolis!

Tours Metropole Palais des Congrès, Parc des Expositions, Tours Événements and Tours Val de Loire Airport

Because of its privileged geographical location, Tours Métropole hosts many professional and cultural events. The Palais des Congrès de Tours and the Parc des Expositions are emblematic venues that host a multitude of trade fairs, congresses, concerts and shows throughout the year. Tours Événements manages and organises these events, contributing to their success and reputation.

Tours Val de Loire Airport enhances the accessibility of the metropolis by offering regular flights to or from London, Porto, Marrakech and Marseille, making travel easier.

Tours Airport

Weather in Tours What's the weather like today?

In spring, the city of Tours enjoys a mild and pleasant climate. The days get longer: perfect for a weekend in the Loire Valley! Temperatures range from 10°C to 20°C, with occasional showers. The flowerbeds in the city’s parks and gardens are bursting with colour, and it’s time for some lovely walks.

In summer, Tours experiences warm temperatures, often between 20°C and 30°C. The skies are mostly clear, with plenty of sunshine, perfect for outdoor activities and visiting monuments. There may be a few scorching days, but generally a light breeze makes the heat bearable.

Autumn in Tours brings a slight drop in temperatures, hovering between 10°C and 18°C. The autumn colours are a perfect match for the timber-framed houses of old Tours, with the leaves on the trees decked out in shades of red, yellow and orange. Rain is more frequent, but sunny days are not uncommon.

In winter, temperatures in Tours are generally between 0°C and 8°C. The weather is often cloudy, with some precipitation. On rare occasions, it snows! It’s an ideal time to visit museums and monuments, or to drink a hot chocolate in the city centre, out of the cold!

Infos Tours - What to do in Tours Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office

For guided tours of Tours, ticketing for visitor sites, as well as hotels and all other information, the tourist office of the Tours metropolitan area is at your service: www.tours-tourisme.fr – 02 47 70 37 37

The city of Tours (Indre et Loire / Centre-Val-de-Loire region) is 235 km from the city of Paris (2h30 by car, 1h10 by train) and 120 km from the city of Orléans.