Relax into a leisurely pace of life in this romantic French destination, nestled amid the natural beauty of the Loire Valley.
Boutique hotels and intimate restaurants are tucked within the tightly-knit streets, along with local bakeries and independent shops perfect for picking up souvenirs. It’s all the best of a French city break, with a little more serenity besides – and plenty of treasures to discover in the countryside beyond.
The Garden of France
Tours is bursting with green spaces where you can while away the afternoon with a picnic, earning it the nickname ‘The Garden of France’. On the northern banks of the Loire river, the Sainte-Radegonde Park is a blissful spot when the sun is out. Kids can be entertained on the playground, before saying hello to the local llamas.
The Botanical Garden is close to the heart of the town, welcoming you to admire exotic flowers, secret gardens and resident flamingos, while Balzac Park sits out on an island in Le Cher river – accessible by walking across a bridge from the shore.
Exploring Le Vieux
The colour palette of Tours is distinctive: full of charming white houses with pale blue slate roofs and wrought iron balconies. However, in Le Vieux Tours – the medieval heart of the town – you’ll discover houses, palaces and holy buildings in all shapes and sizes, offering an eclectic collection of the town’s most splendid structures.
In Place Plumereau some of the original half-timbered houses still stand, and are the epitome of shabby chic, with hundreds of years of history to their names. Lively cafes and creperies spill out of the ground floors, inviting visitors to relax in the sun and relish the laid-back atmosphere.
Just a few streets away is Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, the star attraction of the town. It is Gothic grandeur through and through, with towers looming high above the skyline, and every inch decorated with intricate stonework.
Nearby, in the garden of the palatial Musee des Beaux Arts, you’ll find a tree said to have been planted by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, while a few streets away the Basilica of Saint Martin brings a neo-Byzantine touch to the old quarter – crowned with a grand dome and a statue of the honoured saint.
Splendid chateaux
In the Loire Valley, the chateaux are almost dreamlike, so perfectly formed with fairy-tale turrets, drawbridges and dungeons that you could almost believe you’ve stepped into a fantasy world. Make the local Château de Tours your first stop, checking ahead to see what events are going on during your visit.
Even more spectacular settings are yet to come, however, with three of the most magical chateaux in France all within an hours’ drive of Tours. Admire the Renaissance splendour of the Château de Chambord, around an hour’s drive away via the A10, then head to the Château d'Ussé, also known as Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, which looks like a painting, with bright white turrets set against the verdant forest backdrop.
Perhaps the most picturesque of all is Château de Chenonceau, a white castle built out into the waters of the La Cher river, standing on stone arches to let passing boats float through.
The town of Tours has so much to explore, from bustling squares to quiet, picturesque corners. And to make your trip even more magical, hire a car in Tours and drive out into the Loire Valley, soaking up the pure beauty of this magnificent landscape.
