La Touraine

The city of Tours is situated in the Loire Valley, and is located between two rivers. The Loire sits on the north side and the Cher is on the south side. The city’s population is estimated at 137,000. Tours is famous for its older part of the city, which is aptly called Le Vieux Tours, with medieval style houses in half-timerbing and Place Plumereau, a square with discotecheques, pubs and restaurants with outside tables.

Arts and Culture

Perhaps the main tourist attraction in Tours is The Cathedral of Tours, dedicated to Saint Gatien, its canonized first bishop. This cathedral was begun about 1170 to replace the just-started cathedral that was burnt out in 1166, during the quarrel between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England.

The MUSEE DES BEAUX ARTS (Fine Arts Museum) is also a popular tourist destination, and was formerly the Archbishop's Palace (17th and 18th c.). Here you’ll find fine pieces of antique furniture and a considerable collection of French and foreign paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. There are also some local delights, such as Boulanger's portrait of Balzac, and engravings of The Five Senses by the locally born Abraham Bosse.

Gastronomy

Tours is known for its art of living and has a fantastic gastronomic reputation. The region is full of great chefs, great food and great wine.

Looking to try out some of the region’s specialties? Don’t miss the andouillette (tripe sausage), rillettes (goose or pork pate), coq-au-vin with Chinon wine, Ste Maure goat cheese, or the so-called "Tours" prunes, macaroons made by the monks of Cormery.

La Touraine is also well known for wine tasting. Some of the local favorites include the white wines of Amboise, Montlouis, Vouvray, Azay le Rideau; and the red wines of Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas.

Parks and Gardens

Tours is called "Le Jardin de la France" (The garden of France). There are several parks located within the city, as well as a cedar tree near the Cathedral supposedly planted by Napoleon.

There are strolling parks, which include these amazing parks:
“Honoré de Balzac », the «Cousinerie park », the « Parc de la Bergeonnerie », the « Parc de la Source », « Sainte Radegonde », and « Parc de la Gloriette ».

There are also over 1,152 acres of gardens in Tours, including: The « Jardin de Prébendes d’ Oé », the « Jardin de la Prefecture », the Square Francois Sicard », the « Parc Mirabeau », and the garden of the « Musée des Beaux –Arts ».

Markets

Tours boasts over 30 different outdoor markets. On any given day of the week you can find traditional or specialized markets selling everything from food and textiles, to antiques, crafts and flowers.