Travel Guide Tours

Ancient Gallo-Roman city, then capital of the kingdom of France, Tours benefits from an exceptional location in the center of the Loire Valley. In the ^4th century, the influence of Saint Martin, bishop of Tours, and the cult of his relics led to the creation of a new center of activity. The building became one of the high places of Western Christianity. In the ^14th century, the city experienced a new boom with the silk industry. Cradle of the first French Renaissance, Tours still bears the signs of an unprecedented artistic development, such as the top of the cathedral's towers, the remains of the Saint-Martin cloister, the Gouin and Babou de la Bourdaisière hotels... A quiet, superb and pleasant city, methodically organized in small districts of very different spirits, you cannot but be seduced by its charm. The half-timbered houses, the Saint-Gatien cathedral, the Wilson bridge (former stone bridge) and the castle are must-sees, as is the Plumereau square, former market place, pedestrian and historical district, with the Saint-Martin basilica and the Charlemagne tower, which houses many cafés and restaurants. Known as the garden capital of France, Tours also promotes its 630 hectares of green spaces. Every year, at the end of April or beginning of May, it organizes the Green Day.