Tours

Welcome to Tours!

Tours is a lovely city in France. It is the biggest city in the area called Centre-Val de Loire. Tours is found close to the beautiful Loire River, between Orléans and the wide Atlantic coast.

The city of Tours has a very long history, going back to times when the Romans lived there. Today, Tours is famous for its old and pretty center, which is a special place protected by UNESCO. Many visitors come to see its tall towers and detailed stone work.

Tours is also a place where students study. The city is known for its tasty food, like special cheeses and wines from the Touraine vineyards. Every year, Tours hosts the end of the Paris–Tours cycle race. Cyclists from all over the world come to ride through the city.

Exploring Tours

In old times, people believed the name "Tours" came from a person named Turonus. He was buried there, and the city grew around his grave. Today, you can visit many lovely spots in Tours. See the beautiful Cathedral of Tours, walk around the old part of town called Place Plumereau, and enjoy the parks and gardens.

Fun Places to Visit

Tours has many nice places to explore:

• Hôtel de Ville
• Jardin botanique de Tours
• Medieval enclosure at Tours
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours
• Hôtel Goüin
• Château de Tours
• Basilique St-Martin
• Place Plumereau
• Grand Théâtre, home of the Opéra de Tours
• Tour Charlemagne

Traveling to Tours

Tours is easy to reach by train. Fast trains called TGV can take you to many cities like Bordeaux, Avignon, Barcelona, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Lille. You can get to Paris in less than an hour. Tours has two train stations: Gare de Tours and Gare de Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. There are also buses and trams to help you get around the city.