Loire Valley Travel & Vacation Guide

The beautiful stained glass windows illuminate Cathedral St Gatien. This majestic building includes Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, a real gem for everyone interested in architecture.

In these lovely Gothic-Renaissance cloisters, an elaborate open-sided staircase spirals up to elegant galleries. The round tower alongside was part of the city’s Roman wall.

Not at all a hotel, but rather Tours' City Hall, this imposing edifice is a must-see architectural landmark. Lit up by night, the building and the fountain complex next to it make for a somewhat magical sight.

Hôtel Goüin / Musée Archéologique is home of a 15th-century silk merchant and a masterpiece of ornate, lavish Renaissance decoration inside and out. This is Tours’ main historical museum.

Except for the greenhouses and lush greenery in the summer months, this Botanical Garden also houses a mini-zoo (which will surely delight the little ones), as well as many picnic-perfect areas.

At Musée des Beaux Arts you can find works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Degas and Delacroix, all gathered here in the old Archbishops’ Palace. In the courtyard there is a 200-year-old tree and a 100-year-old stuffed circus elephant.

This unique museum deals with the history of craft guilds that represented rope makers, wood turners, clog makers and similar occupations. The museum was created in honour of fine workmanship. Right next to the museum you can find another museum about wine.

Place Plumereau is a bustling Tours city square that comes alive in the evenings, when students flock to it and restaurants start getting filled with people. Dining options abound in and around the area.

Cabaret Nello is a dinner show that offers a real good time with glitzy entertainment. This will be an evening full of laughter and a place for you to enjoy dance shows and funny sketches.

If you feel like enjoying a night at the opera you should go to Grand Théâtre de Tours, one of the city’s principal venues. Here you can choose from a full programme throughout the year.

Located in the lively Plumereau square, this bar is a popular haunt among locals. It is well-equipped for watching live sports and is open late into the night.

La Guinguette is a beautiful riverside venue with a unique ambiance, open-air beer garden, and a stage that is frequented by live musicians.

WIth its selection of over 120 varieties of beer, Le Gambrinus is a beer-lovers' paradise and is most certainly worth the detour from the Old Town center.

Another great venue that lets you enjoy music is the Petit Faucheux. This celebrated jazz venue hosts performers from around the country in a varied programme.

Catimini sells super-chic toddler wear and is the place to go if you're looking to find the perfect gift for young parents.

Galerie Nationale is an indoor shopping center located in the heart of the city centre and offers jewelers, perfumes and chic fashions. Here you should look for style, not just bargains.

Galeries Lafayette is a celebrated upscale department store that can be found in most bigger cities in France. Anything your heart desires is at an arm's length here.

There are several markets in Tours. The main one, at Les Halles, the covered market at the edge of Vieux Tours, takes place daily and sells all sorts of fresh produce.

Everything is nature-themed in this unusual boutique that will equip you with outdoor exploration gear as well as nature-themed items (even if you're not exactly planning to head into the wild anytime soon).

Cutting across rue Nationale, historic rue Colbert, mainly pedestrianized, has an attractive array of small shops, including many specialist stores. For antiques and artwork, visit parallel rue de la Scellerie.

Rue Nationale is the main commercial artery of the city, where most department stores, shops and boutiques are concentrated. It is in fact one of the oldest streets and for sure the busiest shopping street in the city of Tours.

Vieux Tours is small and can easily be discovered by foot. From morning until night, the Fil Blue public buses serve all the main streets in Tours. On some roads service continues all night. Tickets and cards can be bought from the bus driver or the Fil Blue shop. Tours has also a modern tram system which allows for easy and inexpensive access to major landmarks. Tickets can be bought from the ticket machine which are located at the tram/bus station.

Taxis display a yellow sign on the roof. They can be hailed, phoned or picked up at cab ranks around town. Fares are metered by distance, journey time and time of day. Tips are optional. Taxi Jacques +33 6 720 242 06 Taxi Plus +33 2 47 39 51 66 Taxis Tours:

The small, modern Aeroport de Tours-Val de Loire is located on the edge of the city, 7 kilometers from the center. If you would like to rent a car you will find several car rental companies here. There is a shuttle bus running between the airport and the city center. If flying to and from London, by far the easiest and quickest way into town is on the shuttle bus for London passengers. It runs to the railway station in Tours city center. You can alternatively take a taxi which is available outside the airport terminal.

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On the door of any pharmacy a list shows which pharmacy is on night duty. The list is also available from the police office. Pharmacie du Grand Marché:

Look for the yellow and blue sign to find a post office. You can buy stamps from kiosks and newsagents. Main post office:

Country code: +33 Area code: 0247