Located in the west of France, Tours has the particularity of being crossed by two rivers, the Loire and the Cher. Capital of the Touraine, it makes the pride of its region by its quality of life brought by its average size, its green nature and its destinations of visits and relaxation. A university city par excellence, the pretty city of Tours has a timeless charm from the past. Indeed, the white and blue city, a nickname inherited from the materials of its white tuffeau and blue slate buildings, has a heritage of stunning monuments. We have selected for you the tourist places to see absolutely.
Thanks to its historic heart of Old Tours, the city received in 1987 the label City of Art and History granted by the Ministry of Culture. Since 2000, it has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other cities surrounding the Loire Valley. Its heritage of monuments is just as rich as its historical heritage linked to the kings of France. During a stay in Touraine, consider visiting Tours to discover its tourist places, its museums and other exceptional sites, and come walk its medieval streets, admire its half-timbered houses and savour its famous local gastronomy.
The Roman Catholic cathedral is part of the city’s history. Built in honour of the first bishop of Tours, Saint Gatien, it is distinguished by its two towers that are nearly 70 metres high. Its slow construction dates back to the 13th century and lasted 300 years. Multiple styles of architecture mark its longevity (Gothic and Romanesque, Renaissance). Its magnificent interior contains a richly decorated choir dating from the 13th century inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The tomb of the sons of Charles VIII, the splendid stained glass windows of the chapel and the large bays as well as the cloister of the Psalette are admirable in beauty.
Built between 1886 and 1902, this religious building was the work of architect Victor Laloux. Its Romano-Byzantine style mixes various materials of this period (marble, granite, limestone, slate). Its remarkably preserved interior displays an architecture composed of neo-Romanesque capitals, friezes, wall paintings and a superb glass roof with the effigy of Bishop Saint Martin relating his life. The crypt houses the tomb of Saint Martin, the famous bishop of Tours. The prestige of Saint Martin’s Basilica dates back to the time when this place housed a collegiate church, an eminent shrine of Christendom whose remains are the two adjoining towers, the Charlemagne Tower and the Clock Tower, which today are historical monuments since 1840.
The historic centre of the city, the Old Tours, is a tourist hotspot steeped in history. In its heart, the Plumereau square perfectly illustrates the medieval style of yesteryear with its half-timbered houses, it is a real attraction of the city and it is always lively thanks to the many restaurants, shops and bars where you can sit down to taste a local specialty or have a drink. Not far away, Rue Colbert houses the oldest buildings in Tours as well as the Passage du Coeur Navré, a dark alley that condemned to death used to go to the scaffold.
As for restaurants, the rue de la Rôtisserie offers a wide selection of inns for a stop to eat or drink. And for a walk, the Place du Grand Marché is a beautiful destination to see the sculpture of a creature made by Xavier Veilhan nicknamed The Monster. Make a detour to the Place des Halles if you are a fan of local products!
