The Tours light trail Illuminations and festivities

Walk through Tours at nightfall: a magical experience where historic monuments and medieval alleyways are adorned with a thousand lights. Let yourself be guided along this illuminated route between old quarters and emblematic sites to discover the city in a new light.

Where do the illuminations in Tours start?

Place Jean Jaurès, the beating heart of Tours lights up first every evening as soon as night falls. The illuminated route then guides you naturally to Rue Nationale, and admire the façade of the Grand Théâtre, which is decked out in shimmering colours, before joining the Tour Charlemagne and the Basilique Saint-Martin.
The tour continues to the place Pierre Le Puellier, a shrine of light with preserved medieval charm. The magic works particularly well in the narrow streets of the quartier Plumereau, where the half-timbered facades dance under the play of light and shadow. A magical show awaits you until midnight in winter, extended until 1am in summer.

Old Tours, Place Plumereau...

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Following in Balzac's footsteps

As an extension of the light trail, Honoré de Balzac’s home town is paying tribute to its illustrious writer. In Rue Nationale, the façade of the house where he was born sparkles under golden projections, while quotations from La Comédie Humaine dance on the walls.
Discoverthe Grand Théâtredressed in its finest finery, where lighting effects reveal the splendour of its auditorium directly on its façade. Place Jean Jaurès, a visual creation marks the site of the former statue of Balzac, melted down in 1942.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Château de Tours complete this nocturnal literary journey with illuminated settings evoking the writer’s iconic characters. The energy-efficient lighting transforms each façade into a living page from his work.

©Night Illuminations Tours|ADT Touraine - Jean-Christophe COUTAND

Saint-Gatien cathedral illuminated

The jewel in the crown of the light trail, Saint-Gatien’s cathedral has a breathtaking multimedia show in store for you. Every summer evening, let yourself be transported by a unique visual creation that transforms the Gothic façade into a living tableau. The stained glass windows seem to dance to the rhythm of the projections, while the music envelops you in a dreamlike atmosphere.
Take a seat on the forecourt to admire this symphony of lights that tells the story of Tours, from Saint Martin to the great moments of the Renaissance. Created by the talented Damien Fontaine, the light show enhances the architecture by projecting striking visual effects on the smallest details of the façade.

The light show is designed to give a sense of the history of Tours, from Saint Martin to the great moments of the Renaissance.

The Old Tours light trail

Let yourself be carried away by the magic of the medieval streets, sublimated by soft, subtle lighting. The Place Châteauneuf reveals its architectural treasures in a whole new light, while the Tour de l’Horloge majestically watches over your nocturnal wanderings.
Take time to admire the half-timbered houses that are adorned with dancing shadows, creating a unique atmosphere in this historic district. The route naturally leads you to the Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier garden, a haven of peace where the play of light transforms every nook and cranny into a living tableau.
Extend your walk to the Basilica of Saint-Martin, where the lighting reveals the unsuspected details of its thousand-year-old façade. It’s a 45-minute walk that will take you back through the centuries.

An energy-efficient route

As well as being visually stunning, the Tours light trail sets an example in terms of energy savings. The 800 light points use the latest LED technology, which reduces traditional electricity consumption by a factor of three.
The very precise beams limit light pollution towards the sky, thus preserving nocturnal biodiversity. An intelligent control system also adapts the intensity according to the time of day and the season, for a perfect balance between visual magic and energy efficiency.
The city of Tours is proving that technological innovation and heritage conservation can work in harmony, with an 80% reduction in energy costs compared with the old lighting systems.