Interesting Things To Do In Tours
An Overview of Tours
Tours is a beautiful, vibrant and lively city in the center of the Loire Valley Chateaux. Tours is filled with historic half-timbered houses, a relaxing medieval district and numerous pubs around the central square. The picturesque city is a popular stopping point for those exploring France. Tours is also a major hub for those visiting the truly stunning number of ornate chateaus which exist across the Loire Valley. There are many interesting things to do in Tours.
Interesting Things To Do In Tours
Saint-Gatien Cathedral
Often called the Tours Cathedral, this is a large Roman Catholic Church with Gothic elements to it’s design. The incredibly ornate building took centuries to build between the 13th and 16th century. The final result has lofty vaulted ceilings, medieval stained glass windows and sacred royal tombs.
Olivier Debré Contemporary Art Centre
Also called the CCC OD (Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré), this modernist building contains a rotating exhibition of contemporary artworks, cultural events and prestigious creative spaces. The ambitious venue holds over a hundred and fifty graphic modern works. This is one of the most interesting things to do in Tours.
Place Plumereau
Located in the center of the Saint-Martin district, this historic portion of old town is filled with picturesque half-timbered houses with medieval designs. This is a very popular area of town with outdoor spaces and eateries.
Les Grottes Pétrifiantes (Petrified Caves)
These caves are part of a pair of grottos with several Roman relics. Pottery, manual mills, and several gravestones were uncovered at the site. However, the most interesting feature of the caves are the mineral-rich springs which cause rapid petrification. Objects left under the waters for six months to a year full coat objects in a pure-white layer of limestone. The spring waters were used to create architectural ornaments. The nearby Museum of Petrification is responsible for collecting these stunning petrified creations. Witnessing the underground petrification process is one of the most interesting things to do in Tours.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Tomb
Tucked into the gardens of Château d’Amboise near the Loire, a tiny, pretty chapel serves as the final resting place for one of the greatest minds of all time. Leonardo da Vinci, Italian painter, inventor, intellectual, and genius spent his twilight years working for French rulers exerting their influence over Milan. Leonardo moved to France to work, but passed away while living in the Chateau du Clos Lucé in the town of Amboise on May 2nd of 1519.
Musee du Compagnonnage
Operating out of a former abbey, this museum display crafts and exhibits regarding trade guilds and their histories. The most compelling aspect of this musuem is the various masterworks found in the guild halls. Only qualified artisans were allowed to enter guilds and part of their application involved the creation of over-the-top masterpieces, submitted to showcase their skills.
Rouffignac Cave Day Trip
This cave is a four hour drive south of Tours. It’s home to over 250 astonishing paleolithic engravings and cave paintings. The cave can only receive a certain number of visitors per day, and reservation by phone or internet is not possible at this time.
Jardin Botanique de Tours
This beautiful outdoor walking space is home to an arboretum, a flock of flamingos, plant sculptures, a small bird sanctuary, several walking trails and large baskets growing flowers. The venue is open daily and entry into the botanical gardens are free.
Le Prieuré Saint-Cosme
This stunning ruined monastery and garden space is home to ongoing archaeological excavations. The priory ruins of the site is where French Renaissance poet Pierre de Ronsard is buried.
Château de Chaumont
Oficially known as Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, this structure is a gorgeous white castle with attached towers founded in the 10th century by Odo I, Count of Blois. The castle is roughly an hour drive outside of Tours.
Château de Villandry
This is a gorgeously restored Renaissance palace with large formal gardens, vast tracts of flowers, a beautiful maze and a rotating series of art exhibitions. The Château is famed for its unique furnishings, Renaissance décor and French heritage. The structure originally had Mediaeval fortress aspects, thorugh the defensive fortifications were trimmed down as the building transitioned into an estate.
Parc Naturel Régional Loire-Anjou-Touraine
This is an enormous verdant park space with a wide river, dense forests, numerous hiking trails, several cycling routes and a robust wildlife population. The regional park, created in 1996 is considered a beautiful place for outdoor activities and explorations. The region is home to vineyards, castles and iconic birds of prey.
Prébendes d’Oé Garden
This is an elegant English-style garden with statues of writers, redwood trees and blooming seasonal flowers. The garden is just south of the Old Town portion of Tours.
Château de Chenonceau
Chenonceaux is famous for this château, which bridges the Cher River in a series of elegant arches. The structure has transitional styles between Gothic and Renaissance architecture. This is one of the most famed châteaux of the Loire Valley, partially due to it’s unique integration with the nearby river. The beauty of this structure on a clear day is almost impossible to overstate.
Château Royal d’Amboise
The large château located in the town of Amboise was extensively rebuilt as a residence for French Kings from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The beautiful château attracted numerous artists and literary figures, including Leonardo da Vinci whose tomb is preserved at the château.
Montbazon Castle
Montbazon Castle is among the oldest intact fortifications in France. The structure is located in the commune Montbazon near the River Indre. Montbazon Castle is known for lively tours showcasing dungeons, cellars, fortifications and central halls. The grounds the castle are small, only requiring ten minutes or so to walk through, but staff members in authentic costumes enhance the experience with stories, historical tidbits and entertaining shows.
The Gardens of Villandry
Located in the heart of the Loire Valley, the Château de Valmer is home to marvelous gardens and the exceptional wines of Vouvray.
The Monster by Xavier Veilhan
This is a unique and very popular public sculpture showing a geometric giant with upraised hands towering over a quiet plaza space. While not an overwhelmingly interesting attraction, it’s fun to see.
Château de Tours
This 11th-century Carolingian-style castle hosts a series of contemporary art exhibitions and historical displays. The venue is on the south bank of the Loire River.
Harry Potter Store (Les Trois Sorciers)
A popular Harry Potter store located in Tours.
Charlemagne Tower
An old tower in Tours in France with fantastic views over the city.
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