Tours

Vieux Tours is the city’s most atmospheric quarter, centred on Place Plumereau and the historic area around Saint-Martin.

Medieval half-timbered houses stand beside stone buildings and town houses that reflect the district’s long history of trade and pilgrimage.

Place Plumereau is lined with pavement cafés and serves as a natural meeting place by day and in the evening.

Continue to Place du Grand-Marché, Les Halles, the Basilica of Saint-Martin and the narrow streets linking the squares.

Saint-Gatien is one of Tours’ most important monuments and traces the development of French Gothic architecture across several centuries.

Construction continued from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance. The façade is known for its intricate stonework, while the interior contains historic stained glass and soaring vaults.

The cathedral stands in the eastern historic quarter, close to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Cloître de la Psalette and Château de Tours.

This area is quieter than Place Plumereau and suits a cultural walk before continuing towards the Loire.

For centuries, the area around the Basilica of Saint-Martin was one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations.

The former collegiate church shaped the Châteauneuf district and helped Vieux Tours develop as an independent commercial and religious centre.

Today you can visit the basilica, crypt, Tour Charlemagne and surviving traces of the medieval urban layout.

The area lies close to Place Plumereau, Les Halles and the most charming streets of the old town.

The Musée du Compagnonnage explores the French tradition in which craftspeople travelled, learned and refined their skills through an organised professional brotherhood.

The collection includes remarkable masterworks in wood, metal, stone, textiles, baking and other trades.

The museum occupies a historic building near the Loire and offers an unusual perspective on French cultural history.

Combine the visit with Rue Nationale, Château de Tours and a walk along the river.

Tours’ Fine Arts Museum occupies the former archbishop’s palace beside Saint-Gatien Cathedral.

The collection spans several periods of European art and provides a peaceful contrast to the busier streets of Vieux Tours.

The historic garden is part of the experience and looks towards the cathedral and palace complex.

The museum is easily combined with Cloître de la Psalette, Château de Tours and the Loire.

The Loire is part of everyday life in Tours, offering cycle routes, boat trips, natural landscapes and seasonal guinguettes.

The Loire à Vélo route passes through the city, making it easy to cycle towards Rochecorbon, Vouvray, Montlouis-sur-Loire and Villandry.

In summer, the riverbank becomes a sociable meeting place with concerts, food and drink, and relaxed evenings near the centre.

Organised excursions can combine cycling, wine tasting and canoeing in a single day.