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Sightseeing in Tours - what to see. Complete travel guide

Tours This picturesque city is situated on the bank of the Laura River. Due to a large number of cultural and historical monuments Tours has won the honorary title of City of History and Art.

Start your acquaintance with the cultural heritage of the city from visiting its main attraction - Saint-Gasen Cathedral, which construction started in the 13th century and lasted for more than 300 years. As a result, this building is a unique fusion of different architectural trends. Colbert Street is the historical center of the city. Here you can see numerous old wooden houses, which once have been occupied by townspeople. National Conservatory and Museum of Art are also located here.
Excursion over cultural sights of Tours - 'must visit' points of interest
Tours is of great interest to fans of sightseeing, as many ancient and medieval sights have survived in the city. The main symbol of Tours is the beautiful Cathedrale Saint-Gatien, the … Open
Archbishop Palace is located not far away from the city's main attraction. The palace is surrounded by a large garden. Besides observing beautiful halls of the palace don’t forget to pay attention to Lebanon cedar, which height estimates 33 meters. The tree was planted 200 years ago immediately after the construction of the Palace.
Plumereau Square is known as the noisiest part of the city. Several very nice restaurants are located around it. Here you can always see numerous tourists. Besides gourmet French cuisine people are attracted by a beautiful stately building - Basilica of San Martin. The Basilica has become the witness of important historical events, many of which have been captured in the frescoes that decorate its halls. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Excursion over cultural sights of Tours - 'must visit' points of interest
Tours is of great interest to fans of sightseeing, as many ancient and medieval sights have survived in the city. The main symbol of Tours is the beautiful Cathedrale Saint-Gatien, the … Open
Tours is also a major university center, where are trained representatives of various countries. Such large number of young people couldn’t have reflected on the life of the city. There are many entertainment venues, cafes and cinemas here. Such a wide choice of entertainments will surely please any traveler. The rest here will leave numerous positive impressions.
Tours The tower of Charlemagne is a really interesting historical monument. It is the only remains of the old abbey, which establishment took place in the 5th century. In the early 19th century, there was not a trace left of the abbey building. Only the tower, which the locals used as an ammunition depot, left. In the middle of the 19th century, clean water resources were stored there. It's a miracle the architectural monument managed to survive to this day. In 1927, the city was hit by the massive earthquake, and the tower partially collapsed. Local residents have made every effort to restore the tower. Currently, there're interesting guided tours there.
Excursion over cultural sights of Tours - 'must visit' points of interest
Tours is of great interest to fans of sightseeing, as many ancient and medieval sights have survived in the city. The main symbol of Tours is the beautiful Cathedrale Saint-Gatien, the … Open
The beautiful abbey of Marmieu was founded in the 4th century. St. Martin of Tours was its founder. Locals consider him the patron saint of winemaking. The ancient abbey is an outstanding religious monument for them. The old monastery was badly damaged in the 9th century during the invasion of the Normans. However, it was completely restored. Already in the 11th century, it was considered one of the richest monasteries in Europe. The complex has been partially preserved up to now and includes several old buildings, towers, and part of the fortress wall. Nearby, is the park of St. Radegonde, the most fabulous in the city.
The Museum of Fine Arts is a popular tourist object. It occupies a beautiful Episcopal Palace. The museum contains a rich collection of works by famous European painters and will be interesting to amateurs of Delacroix, Rubens, Degas, and Rembrandt. The opening of the museum in the palace took place in 1910. Previously it used to be a school, a warehouse, and a theater.
Excursion over cultural sights of Tours - 'must visit' points of interest
Tours is of great interest to fans of sightseeing, as many ancient and medieval sights have survived in the city. The main symbol of Tours is the beautiful Cathedrale Saint-Gatien, the … Open
Some beautiful castles survived in and around the city. Plessis-les-Tours is the most gorgeous and interesting one. This castle was built as a residence of King Louis XI. After the Great French Revolution, it has been privately owned for many years. One of its former owners dismantled the construction almost completely, but many nice rooms still survived. There is a room where Louis XI spent the last minutes of his life. Yet, visitors can see the old royal prison. The historic building is surrounded by a picturesque garden. In recent years, the castle is often used for theater performances and festivals.
Reference information
Map of all shopping areas
Shopping streets in Tours
♥   Shopping area ' Place Jean Jaurès' Tours, 0.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Shopping area ' Rue Nationale' Tours, 1.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Tours
♥   Castle 'Château de Tours' Indre-et-Loire, 2.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Mont' Indre, 9.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Luynes' Indre-et-Loire, 9.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Montbazon' Indre-et-Loire, 11.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Cinq-Mars-la-Pile' Indre-et-Loire, 17.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Tours
♥   Regional Nature Park 'Loire-Anjou-Touraine' , 50.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Regional Nature Park 'Brenne' , 88.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Regional Nature Park 'Perche' , 112.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Regional Nature Park 'Normandie-Maine' , 145.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Tours and around
♥   Art museum 'Musée des Beaux-Arts' Tours, 1.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Tours from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire

From the series “The greatest France castles ”
Check on the map:   Distance from Tours center - 38.8 km.
Catherine de Medici was the owner of the fortress in the 16th century. Preserved Queen's chambers are considered to be one of the main attractions today. The observatory was equipped in the fortress during her reign. Many famous astrologers and scientists visited Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire during this period. The castle is open for excursions all year round. A unique collection of antique furniture, paintings, and tapestries, as well as other antiques, is stored in it. Ancient frescoes with medieval themes are preserved in some halls. The old billiard room is considered one of the most interesting rooms. Some outbuildings have also been preserved on the castle grounds. Old stables are among them. … Read further

Chateau de Loches

From the series “The greatest France castles ”
Check on the map:   Distance from Tours center - 37.1 km.
The interiors of previous years were restored in some halls of the fortress. Antique furniture and works of art are kept in them today. The ascent to the observation deck remains one of the favorite attractions for visitors to the castle. It is located on the roof of the donjon. Visitors must climb a steep staircase of 150 steps to reach the roof of the tower. A wonderful panoramic view of the city opens from a height. You can also view the preserved wall of the old fortress in all its details from the site. Its length is about 2 kilometers. Interesting cultural events are held in the castle throughout the year. … Read further

Sightseeing in regions nearby Tours

Le Mans
After the war the city was renovated for many years to bring back its traditional architecture. The city features several architectural sights that reflect various epochs. Here you can see half-timbered houses and mansions made of stone and built in the Renaissance ... Open »
Angers
The problem persisted until the 10th century. This is when the Counts of Anjou took over control of the region. Starting from that time local people could stop being constantly scared because their life became a lot safer. Year after year, the dukes did all they could ... Open »
Chartres
Chartres got an upgraded status at the end of the 20s of the 16th century. It became a duchy during the reign of Francis I. In the 1870s, when France was in a war with Prussia, German troops occupied the city and stayed in Chartres for a long time. During World War ... Open »
Nantes
The most famous gallery of Nantes is Passage Pommeraye, a beautiful three-tiered building in the Baroque style, which halls host various exhibitions and other cultural events. The city attracts not only history lovers, but also shopping fans. The central commercial ... Open »
Limoges
Nowadays only ruins remind of those facilities. They are precious to the local people as they sure have historical value. One more ancient and precious destination of the city is the library of Saint Martin. The library contains 23 thousand of books. The library works ... Open »
Versailles
The main park of Versailles has become the most popular place for pedestrian walks. The square of the park exceeds 6,000 hectares. It is also decorated with various sculptures, swimming pools, and fountains. The noblest people of France once walked on the roads of this ... Open »
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