WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN TOURS?
Here’s a quick overview of the 10 best things to visit in Tours, a good base if you want to visit the castles of the Loire Valley in France.
Before leaving, remember to book your hotel in Tours on Booking.com
1 – The cathedral of Saint-Gatien
2 – The Archbishops’ Palace / Museum of Fine Arts
Located not far from the cathedral, you can visit the garden and see a huge cedar tree. There is also a stuffed elephant called’Fritz’. I’m serious. I’m serious.
3 – Plumereau Square
Also called the Place Plume by the Tourangeaux (yes, we call the inhabitants of Tours like that!), we can see pretty half-timbered houses there.
4 – Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier Square
A nice square to see, not very far from Plume Square.
5 – The banks of the Loire
Very nice for a walk. From May to September there is the guinguette, an outdoor bar/bbq located near Wilson Bridge where you can have a drink and see concerts.
6 – Hotel de Beaune Semblançay
An old mansion house (or what remains of it, just a piece of wall) destroyed during the Second World War.
7 – The Botanical Garden
It’s located in the west of the city.
8 – Hotel Gouin
A historical monument, a former private mansion of a wealthy banker’s family.
9 – The castle of Tours
It’s located on the banks of the Loire
10 – The companionship museum
You can see works by the companions of France and discover their traditions and history. Admission costs €5.30.
Also worth a visit in Tours:
- Saint Martin Basilica: Another religious monument, we can see in its crypt the tomb of Saint Martin de Tours.
- Tours Town Hall: Quite impressive in size, it deserves a look. If you arrive by train in Tours, it’s opposite the SNCF train station.