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Home » Travel Guides » France » 15 Best Things to Do in Tours (France)

15 Best Things to Do in Tours (France)

It’s no mystery that Tours is a favourite base for people discovering the Loire Valley’s exalted châteaux.

Villandry, Chenonceau and Amboise are moments by car, and with the help of the Loire à Vélo network you can visit them on two wheels with ease.

But you may find that if you delve a little more into Tours’ history and attractions, it could be difficult to leave the city at all.

In the centre are timber houses and renaissance mansions on car-free streets, and museums that draw you into the city’s medieval past.

There are vineyards welcoming inquisitive oenophiles in the countryside and both the waters and banks of the Loire invite you to go wherever your sense of curiosity leads.

Lets explore the best things to do in Tours :

1. Tours Cathedral

Even by the glacial speed of construction in the middle ages, Tours Cathedral took a long time to be completed.

Building began in 1170 and wouldn’t be finished until 1547, but this means we’re met with a perfect summary of the evolution of gothic art.

The ensemble of original 13th-century stained glass windows in the ambulatory chapels and above the choir is one of the finest in France, and seems to generate its own light.

The cathedral has information panels giving you the meaning behind each image.

The marble renaissance tombs of King Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany’s children are also moving, as both died in infancy.

2. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

The riches from Cardinal Richelieu’s 17th-century campaign against the Huguenots and the art seized from abbeys during the Revolution all ended up at Tours’ stellar museum of fine art.

Because of their religious source there’s a good body of Italian gothic primitives from the 14th and 15th centuries, while the two renaissance paintings by Andrea Mentegna are regarded as masterpieces.

You’ve got over a thousand artworks to get through, with sculpture by Rodin, Flemish and Dutch painting by Rembrandt and Rubens, and Impressionism by Monet and Degas.

3. Tours Botanical Garden

The city’s municipal garden has a bit of a troublesome setting, between the Loire and Cher, which made it susceptible to flooding in the past, with two devastating inundations in the mid-19th century that filled the greenhouses with two metres of water.

Even after being hit by bombs in the Second World War there isn’t the slightest hint of a troubled past at these serene gardens.

On your walk you may notice some trees you haven’t seen before, like the Chinese empress tree, ginkgo biloba and the endangered dawn redwood.

The animal park is from 1863 and has farm animals for kids to bond with, as well as more exotic species like wallabies.

4. Le Vieux Tours

Like all the best historic city centres the historic buildings on the pedestrian streets around Place Plumereau aren’t sterile museum pieces but vibrant cornerstones of local life, used as shops, restaurants and bars.

Place de Plumereau is at the nerve centre of one of the largest conservation areas in Europe, with renaissance mansions boasting sculpted reliefs or cantilevered timber houses, going strong for hundreds of years.

If you’re OK with everybody knowing you’re a tourist, jump aboard the little train that departs every hour from Place Plumereau in summer.

5. Musée du Compagnonnage

In the 16th-century Dormitory at the former Abbey of Saint-Julien is a museum devoted to a French workers’ movement that dates back to medieval times.

Roughly, the Compagnons du Tour de France is like a guild of journeymen that preserves historic trades and educates young people about them as part of an apprenticeship.

To complete the apprenticeship and become a “companion” a craftsman had to create a masterpiece for whatever discipline he worked in.

And these dumbfounding creations are presented at the museum, in all kinds of different disciplines, like metalwork, tailoring, shoemaking and woodcarving.

6. Hôtel Goüin

What may be the most beautiful of Tours’ many old building has just come through a long restoration and is open to the public once more.

Hôtel Goüin is an early-renaissance palace on Rue du Commerce, with a balustraded porch and the sort of loggia in which you might expect to see Juliet calling for Romeo.

During the restoration they unearthed fragments of an older building from the 1100s, with four arches and a well, which are on show.

You might just want to stop for a photo of that magnificent facade, but there’s an archaeological museum inside with artefacts from Roman times up to the 1800s.

7. Halles de Tours

Billed as the “Belly of Tours” (ventre de Tours), the city’s indoor market may not be France’s largest, but it’s a gastronome’s idea of heaven.

You may even want to bring your camera or have your phone at the ready, because the cheese, charcuterie, seafood and in-season fruit and vegetable counters are presented with real flair.

If you’re stuck for gift ideas then markets like this tick the box as they’re stocked with all the best from the region.

At Tours that entails wine from the Loire Valley and luxury chocolate.

The city is one of France’s chocolate capitals, and every years holds the Salon du Chocolat de Tours at the Centre de Congrès Vinci.

Come for lunch too: The oyster bar shucks your oyster as you go.

8. Jardin des Prébendes d’Oé

During the French Second Empire from the mid-1800s English-style parks like this one popped up in provincial cities across France.

This was a spot for urban families to take promenades, kids to play and for the city to put on outdoor concerts at the park’s gazebo.

There’s less of the formality of French parterres, as paths weave through tulip flowerbeds and  copses of lime, plane, cedar, chestnut and lofty redwood trees.

So if you could do with a moment of repose take a wander by the pond and pause for a tea or coffee at the kiosk.

On warmer days you could load up on cheese and charcuterie at the market and have the perfect French picnic.

9. Église Saint-Julien de Tours

The predecessors of this  12th-century abbey were wrecked by the Normans in the 9th century and then in a war between the feudal houses of Blois and Anjou in the 10th century.

But miraculously the building that followed has survived everything from the French Revolution to the Second World War.

It was part of a long-gone abbey, and the garden next to the church is where the cloister used to be, while the Musée de Compagnonnage occupies the old dormitory.

10. “Toue” River Cruises

Commercial craft floated along the Loire and Cher since antiquity, hauling people, wine, silk, lumber, salt and all sorts of other cargo up and down these rivers.

Because the waterways can get very shallow they used flat-bottomed sailboats called “toues”, and you can too! Toues can carry between 12 and 30 passengers for hour-long trips, or even romantic dinner cruises in the evening.

Their skippers know these waters and banks like the backs of their hands: And with the deck as your balcony, they’ll shed light on the Tours’ river trade, its many colourful characters and perils.

11. Loire à Vélo

If you had to picture some quintessentially French holiday activities, a bike ride next to the Loire with a backdrop of gentle vine-striped hills and châteaux must be one of the first that comes to mind.

About 150km of the of the Loire à Vélo cycle trail’s totalling 800km are in the Touraine region.

The route is clearly-marked, easy -going because it never leaves the riverside and convenient as there are dozens of hire stations along the way.

You could give yourself set destinations like Amboise or Villandry, which are both reachable in about an hour.

Or make more of an adventure of it by going further afield and spending the night at the inns on the route that are happy to accommodate cyclists.

12. Guinguette sur Loire

On the left bank of the Loire, just by Pont Wilson, is where Tours’ “Guinguette” takes place from May to September.

It isn’t officially summer in Tours until this outdoor café by the river is bustling every evening with locals and tourists at the bar terrace, taking part in dance lessons, enjoying concerts or watching movies at the outdoor cinema.

Tours is a student city so the atmosphere is always warm and energetic.

The location is wonderful, under willow trees and string lights, with the river rolling past.

And every year there Guinguette has something new on the schedule.

13. Wine and Gastronmic Visits

If you’re a wine-lover you’ve come to the right place.

There’s an absurd amount of AOCs nearby: A dozen within an hour, and five bordering the city.

The diversity will make your head spin more than the wine itself, with the reds of Touraine-Chenonceau, the whites of Touraine Sauvignon and rosés made in Touraine noble joué.

When it comes to precious foodstuffs there’s a saffron market in Preuilly-sur-Claise and a seasonal truffle market at Marigny-Marmande.

The local cheese, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine is known to all for its cylindrical shape and the straw that pierces it through the centre.

To know more, pay a visit to the dairy at Les Passerelles or the child-friendly goat farm, Cabri au Lait, which makes Sainte-Maure but also has a petting zoo for the little guys and girls.

14. Château de Villandry

It would be criminal to visit Tours and not call in at one of the abundant château in the region.

Tours is touted as a gateway for these sensational pieces of French royal or noble heritage.

You can reach Villandry in 20 minutes, and it’s one of the finest.

The gardens are the showstopper at this château.

They were restored at the turn of the century by the Spanish doctor Joachim Carvallo.

He conceived several terraces of renaissance gardens, all with precisely trimmed boxwood hedges in joyous geometric configurations.

There’s a water garden, labyrinth, sun garden, ornamental garden with high hedges, but the most astounding is the formal medieval kitchen garden, all in neat plots.

15. Château d’Amboise

The home of Francis I and most of the French royalty in the 16th century is a 20-minute car or train ride to the east.

The château had its heyday in the renaissance period after Charles VIII turned it from a fortress into the Loire valley’s first Italian-style palace in the late-1400s.

In 1516 Francis I invited Leonardo da Vinci to live and work in Amboise, and the polymath’s home at Clos Lucé was actually connected to the Château d’Amboise by underground passageways that you can discover today by prior arrangement.

Da Vinci died here in 1519 and is buried at the Chapel of Saint-Hubert at the Château.

The gardens are embellished with spherical topiaries and the views from this spur above the Loire are divine.

15 Best Things to Do in Tours (France):

• Tours Cathedral
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours
• Tours Botanical Garden
• Le Vieux Tours
• Musée du Compagnonnage
• Hôtel Goüin
• Halles de Tours
• Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé
• Église Saint-Julien de Tours
• "Toue" River Cruises
• Loire à Vélo
• Guinguette sur Loire
• Wine and Gastronmic Visits
• Château de Villandry
• Château d'Amboise

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Everything You Want to Know About France and More...

What to see and do in historic Tours in the heart of the Loire Valley

• Janine Marsh
• Centre - Val de Loire

Tours in the department of Centre is the gateway city to the Loire Valley. It makes for a great base to visit the area. But, it’s a terrific place to visit in its own right with wide and grand avenues, a charming old town and Haussmanesque style architecture mixed with medieval, Renaissance and modern. In parts it’s reminiscent of Paris and has in fact been acting capital of France on more than one occasion.

The city centre has a lively air. The old part of town is home to a famous cathedral and winding cobbled streets lined with cafés and restaurants and half-timbered houses.

Discover museums, pretty streets to roam, quirky boutiques and lots of shops. There’s loads to do when you’re not tasting wine in vineyards or chateau hopping in the countryside around.

At just an hour from Paris by train it’s very easy to reach…

Cobbled streets and captivating cafés

Tours has a laidback vibe and nowhere is this more obvious than in the charming pedestrianised Place Plumereau in Vieux Tours (the old part of town). Once called the carroi aux chapeau, the hat market, it is lined with 15th century wood-framed and stone-gabled houses, many of them have been converted into cafés, bistros and restaurants.

This little square was voted the best place in France for an aperitif – it’s easy to see why. Tables and chairs spill out onto the square, colourful umbrellas add a splash of colour, an ancient mulberry tree presides. An exuberant atmosphere hangs over the square thanks to it being popular throughout the day for coffee, lunch, ice cream, aperitifs and dinner. Take your pick from a whole raft of excellent eateries (try Les Trois Rois for somewhere atmospheric, pretty and loved by the locals).

All round Place Plumereau are a hodgepodge of cobbled streets with more cafés, restaurants and shops.

Historic Tours

The Cathedral of Tours is a masterpiece of architecture ranging from flamboyant Gothic to Romanesque and Renaissance. There are some truly spectacular stained glass windows, some of them almost 800 years old. Started in 1239 it took some 300 years to complete and the charming cloisters of the Cathedral featured in Balzac’s Curé de Tours (the character of Madame Garnard lived there).

Inside, a marble tomb is the last resting place of the heirs to the Valois dynasty, the young sons of Charles VIII and Anne of Bretagne. When Charles VIII died (1498) she married his cousin, Louis XII, as he wanted her lands. He had to divorce his wife Jeanne who was interrogated in Tours by church judges who ruled the marriage had never been consummated. The result left him free to marry Anne (Jeanne was later canonised to became Saint Joan of Valois). Anne and Louis had two daughters, one of whom married Francis I, which led to the formal union of France and Brittany.

Where old Tours meets new Tours

There really are enough historic buildings here to please the most ardent history lover. Don’t miss the Musée de Beaux Arts which is located in the former Archbishop’s Palace. It houses a wonderful collection of paintings, ceramics and furnishings including silk panels. Tours was once a thriving silk production centre with 20,000 weavers, after Louis XI (King from 1461-1483) moved production from Lyons saying people were too lazy there.

It’s a mix of old and new here. And they’re not done yet. There’s an ongoing programme of opening up walkways along the river, providing more places to eat, drink and shop. In 2017 a brand new and unique art centre opened, the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré . It is contemporary, innovative and hosts mesmerising exhibitions.

And, bringing the old and new together, visit the Atelier d’Ofard , where wallpaper is made by hand to the old methods used in the 17th century. If you’ve ever wondered how the amazing wallpaper you see in Chateaux, such as in the bedroom of Marie-Antoinette at Versailles, then this visit reveals the secrets and history of wallpaper making using wooden blocks and hand mixed pigment. It’s a unique and fascinating tour.

All this discovery builds up an appetite. Luckily you’re in the right place to truly indulge – click here to read about where to eat out in Tours , the places the locals love!

Practical Information for Tours

Top tip : Book tours of chateaux from the tourist office. Many of the greats are easily accessible from here, Chenonceau, Villandry and Chambord to mention just a few.

Where to stay : Splash out and indulge at the 4* Hotel Oceania L’Univers . This historic hotel has welcome Rockefeller, Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway amongst many prestigious guests. Wonderfully plush, old school glamour, in a fabulous location and friendly staff. (Parking available).

Great value at Le Grand Tours . There’s a range of rooms styles (and prices) in a terrific art deco building. Friendly staff and conveniently close to Tours station.

Get there : Train from Paris takes a little over an hour.

What to see nearby : Chateau de Chenonceau, the castle of flowers which you can reach by train. You can also take a train to Amboise and Blois from here…

For more information on what to see and do in Tours visit the tourist office: 78-82 Rue Bernard Palissy www.tours-tourism.co.uk

For more information on what to do in the Loire Valley see: www.loirevalley-france.co.uk ;  uk.france.fr

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10 Best Things To Do In Tours, France

By: Author Christine Rogador

Posted on Published: August 14, 2021  - Last updated: February 20, 2023

Are you looking for the best things to do in Tours, France ?

The birthplace of Honoré de Balzac , one of France’s greatest authors , the city of Tours is the gateway to the Loire Valley . It was also once the base of the French government.

Planked by the rivers Cher and Loire, Tours is the largest city in the French region of Centre-Val de Loire. It offers sights and activities you cannot (and should not) say no to.

Things you'll find in this article

1. Be awed by Loire Valley’s famous chateaux in Tours

2. understand why tours is known as “le jardin de la france” , 3. visit cathédrale saint gatien de tours, 4. enjoy the medieval and local atmosphere at place plumereau, tours, 5. visit the past at the musée du compagnonnage, 6. pay homage to st. martin at the basilique saint martin, 7. stroll across pont wilson (wilson bridge), 8. meet the giant cedar tree at the musée des beaux-arts de tours, 9. buy flowers at marché aux fleurs (flower market), travel tips and resources.

Here are the best things to do and see in Tours, France

If you’re visiting Tours, you simply can’t not be awed by the famous Loire Valley chateaux found in this city – Château de Tours, Château de La Branchoire, Château de Beaulieu, and Château de la Crouzillière, to name a few. 

These beautiful old chateaux should get you started. 

Dubbed the “Garden of France,” Tours is home to numerous parks located within the city. 

The Botanical Garden, which dates to the mid-19th century, is a nice place to visit especially if you have children. There are also some animals in the gardens which make it more interesting.

Jardins des Prébendes d’Oé, with its lake, big sequoia trees, a number of quiet spots to sit and rest, and a nice little café by the main gates, is a delightful park hidden away in the city. It’s worth finding it.

Parc Honoré de Balzac, named after the famous French author – Tours’ very own – is on a man-made island. It has a play area, an animal park, and a river if you want to practice canoeing. 

These are but a few of numerous parks and gardens that make Tours quite the “Garden of France.”

A must-visit when in Tours, Cathédrale Saint Gatien de Tours, also known as Tours Cathedral, is a magnificent building that’s beautiful inside and out. 

Hands down the best church in Tours, it was constructed in stages from 1170 to 1547, between the Gothic and Renaissance styles. It’s definitely one of the best you’ll ever see.

The garden next door also provides the perfect view of the church towers.

Place Plumereau is the heart of Old Tours. 

Situated in the center of the old quarters of the city, Place Plumereau’s main feature is the 15th-century half-timbered houses that make it such a perfect place to enjoy the medieval and local atmosphere.

The square is brimming with restaurants and cafés so you can admire the beautiful Romanesque and Renaissance façades while you sip your latte.

Musée du Compagnonnage is a small museum that showcases intricate crafts and exhibits so you can have a glimpse into how the trades developed in France. 

This is a must-see museum if you want to visit the past and pay tribute to forgotten craftsman and artisans who made masterpieces with their brains and bare hands. 

The trades museum is right at the end of the main shopping street so it’s very accessible.

A lovely church built over the tomb of St. Martin of Tours, Basilique Saint Martin has a very long history. 

The site itself dates back to the 5th century, when the first church was built. It was completely destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793. The present church was constructed between 1886 and 1924 in a neo-Byzantine style.

It is an interesting place to visit, a definite stop whether you’re a Catholic or not. A visit to the crypt downstairs is unmissable. Go see for yourself!

Pont Wilson was built between 1765 and 1778, making it the oldest bridge in Tours. This historical monument is named in honor of Woodrow Wilson, 28th president of the United States and an ally of France during the First World War.

Pont Wilson was destroyed by a terrible flood but has been restored to its original state since. You can tell from the high water marks just how severe the floods were in the past centuries.

A stroll across this famous bridge provides some excellent views of the city skyline on either sides, as well as the charming riverside cafés. 

… and while you’re there, go and check out the museum’s impressive collection of eclectic art! 

Also, say hi to the stuffed elephant in front of the museum.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Tours houses over 12,000 works – however, only a thousand are on public show. Still a good number, though.

The giant cedar of Lebanon, the stuffed elephant, and those fine artworks inside are all masterpieces surely not to be missed when in Tours.

If you’re like me who neither has the time nor the inclination to go on a trip to the local market, well, this is your chance for a market experience while on a holiday!

There is a large flower market in the streets of Tours twice a week – Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

A market that smells heavenly; what more can you ask for? Here they sell not just flowers but craft items as well, so you can also get some souvenirs while you shop for tulips and sunflowers.

And of course, photos are compulsory with all the colorful blooms around.

10. Sample the world-famous Loire Valley wines in Tours

If you love fine wine , Tours is your piece of heaven on earth. The number of AOCs (“appellation d’origine contrôlée”/”controlled designation of origin”) in and around Tours is simply insane! 

The Loire Valley wine region is known for producing dry, white wines, as well as tannin-rich red wines.

So a trip to the Loire Valley without tasting its wines is committing a sin and definitely unheard of. So oenophile or not, go have a sip or two (or twenty-two) of Chenin Blanc!

Travel Insurance: I never leave home without travel insurance. My personal opinion is if you can afford to travel, you can afford to buy a travel insurance. All things can happen while on the road and you can never be too sure. And it's something that you'll be glad to have when you need it. For my preferred travel insurance, I use Safety Wing .

What To Wear: If you want some ideas on what to pack for France, check out this packing list guide for France .

Where To Stay: I personally use Booking.com for all my accommodations. Check out for their latest deals here .

Reading Resources: Check out our best reading resources here .

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.

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Tours travel guide

Visit Tours (Centre-Loire Valley, France)

The town of Tours is in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Centre region (the Loire Valley), and it is the largest town in the region. A busy, thriving town Tours is also only an hour to the south-west of Paris .

Exploring Tours

France This Way review: in Tours you will discover an extensive medieval historic centre, an imposing cathedral and cloisters, modern shopping streets and several other important monuments: together these make the town a very interesting and enjoyable destination to visit.

If possible, start your visit with a visit to Tours Tourist office on Rue Bernard Palissy to the south-east of the centre: this is adjacent to the car park on Rue Général Leclerc so we suggest you park there if arriving by car. The tourist office have lots of useful information about hidden sites and places you might not otherwise discover, such as a route for wine tasting...

One of the main attractions in Tours is the historic centre of the old town, in and around Place Plumereau. Around the edges of the square there are beautiful 12th to 15th century half timbered houses and some houses that also include fascinating features such as the carved figures on the facade of the house on the corner with Rue du Commerce.

The square is also filled with cafes and open air seating, so it’s a great place to sit and have a drink.

After exploring the streets in the historic centre, if you walk a short distance south along Rue du Change you reach another group of interesting buildings including the Tour Charlemagne, built over the tomb of Luitgarde, the wife of Charlemagne, and the Basilica Saint-Martin.

Inside the Basilica Saint-Martin , built in Tours in the 19th century in the neo-byzantine style, you can admire the painting of the dome and in the crypt of the church is the tomb of Saint-Martin, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in France.

There are a number of grand houses dating from the Renaissance period along Rue du Commerce, to the east of the old town. Our favourite is the Hotel Gouin with a lovely Renaissance façade: the archeaology museum is now housed in the building.

At the end of Rue du Commerce you can see another impressive religious monument, the Church of Saint-Julien, that combines both roman and gothic styles of architecture.

Cathedral Saint-Gatien and La Psalette cloisters

The Cathedral Saint-Gatien, the most important religious monument in Tours, is at the east end of Rue Commerce and Rue Colbert, and contains the tombs of the children of Charles VIII. Most notable, although part of the cathedral dates from the 12th century, much of the western end was built in the 15th century in so-called 'flamboyant gothic' style.

Adjacent to the cathedral are the cloisters of la Psalette - an impressive structure in a mix of architectural styles with elaborate stonework and a beautiful renaissance staircase. In part of the cloisters you can see the room where religious chanting was practiced. The cloisters are listed as one of 85 National Monuments in France.

See our separate guide for information about Tours cathedral and the la Psalette cloisters .

Other monuments in Tours

Next to the cathedral is the Museum of Fine Arts housed in the Archbishops Palace. You should stroll around the pretty gardens even if you are not going into the museum. There is also a cedar tree in the garden of the Archbishops palace, famous for being planted by Napoleon.

Next to the river on the other side of the cathedral you can see the Chateau of Tours, although only two towers now remain. The Tour de Guise houses a wax-work museum and a Tropical Aquarium.

If you walk south along Rue Nationale from the Church of Saint-Julien you can pause to do some shopping then continue to Place Jean Jaures to see two very impressive classical style buildings dating from Tours period of prosperity in the 18th century: the Palais de Justice and the Hotel de Ville.

As you would expect of a major town such as Tours you will also find a wide range of shops, restaurants and all other commerces. There are also markets held in different parts of the town almost every day of the week.

Parcs and gardens in Tours

For a change from the bustle of the streets there are several public parks and gardens in Tours. We enjoyed a visit to the Botanic gardens, an extensive area of trees, gardens and water features opposite the Bretonneau Hospital to the west of the centre and also a stroll around the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé to the south of Tours town centre (rue Roger Salengro).

There are many others that we did not unfortunately have time to visit, which you will find on the map given out by the tourist office in Tours.

Attractions nearby

Of course no visit to the Loire Valley would be complete without visiting a castle or two, and several of the most important castles, towns and villages are within easy reach of Tours.

Among our favourites, the gardens at Château de Villandry are a short distance along the river to the west of Tours, and in the pretty town of Amboise you can visit the Chateau d'Amboise and Chateau de Clos Lucé , once home to Leonardo da Vinci. See also Loire Valley castles for more information.

You can find more travel ideas in the Indre-et-Loire guide and the Loire Valley guide .

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Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

The basilica Saint-Martin is an imposing neo-byzantine church in the town of Tours

Tours Cathedral and La Psalette Cloisters

The la Psalette cloister and the cathedral of Tours together make a very impressive religious monument with various architectural styles

Chateau de Villandry

The rooms at Chateau de Villandry can be explored, but it is the world famous French style gardens here that will hold your attention the longest

Although it is the castle that attracts visitors to Amboise, you will also enjoy exploring the main square and old streets elsewhere in the small town

Azay-le-Rideau

The village of Azay-le-Rideau is best known for its castle but also has a pleasant centre with a historic church and mill to explore

Chateau d'Amboise

The Chateau d'Amboise is a castle with impressive gardens and a lovely view across the rooftops of Amboise

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Indre-et-Loire

Tourist classifications for Tours

Tours has received the following tourist classifications: listed town of Art and History ; historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé); village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*

Address: Tours, Loire Valley, 37000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 47.393, longitude 0.6891

Plan your visit to Tours, Indre-et-Loire

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby.

• Cloisters of la Psalette : national monument
• Le jardin des Prébendes d'Oé: remarkable garden
• Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire: ville fleurie 4*
• Les jardins du prieuré de Saint-Cosme: remarkable garden (2 km)
• Les jardins du château de Villandry : remarkable garden (14 km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Valmer: remarkable garden (15 km)
• Aquarium du Val-de-Loire: aquarium (17 km)
• Les jardins de la Chatonnière: remarkable garden (22 km)
• Amboise : secteur sauvegarde (22 km)
• Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau : national monument (22 km)
• Réserve de Beaumarchais: zoo or wildlife park (27 km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Chenonceau : remarkable garden (30 km)

The French version of this page is at Tours (Francais)

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Shopping Tours in France

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Luxury Paris Shopping Tours: VIP Experiences

..unlock french style, past & present.

As a global centre of haute couture and luxury goods, Paris is a natural destination for style-conscious travelers, or anyone hoping to find some exceptional items– from finely made clothing to jewelry, accessories or even antiques and high-end homeware. World-famous for its emphasis on fine craftsmanship and impeccable style, the French capital truly has it all. Read on to find out how our private Paris shopping tours and fashion-centric itineraries will help you not only home in on some extraordinary pieces, but also immerse you in the fascinating past and present of French style.

Marie Tesson

Read related: Why Choose Private Tours With Locals For Your Luxury French Getaway?

Let a personal fashion guide steer you in the right style direction..

When you embark on a bespoke getaway to Paris with us and wish to focus some or all of your tour on shopping and fashion, you’ll benefit from the personal attention and guidance of a private guide and style expert who will design an itinerary perfectly suited to your interests.

Hoping to come away with the perfect new wardrobe that draws on this season’s couture runways? Your guide and personal stylist will put together a day or more of visits to boutiques and private auctions in high-end areas such as Rue Saint-Honoré, the Marais, Avenue Montaigne or Saint-Germain, where you may access VIP customer areas for fittings and be among the first customers to browse exclusive new collections. Welcome drinks upon the start of the tour are a possibility, too. You’ll also have the opportunity, with certain houses and brands, to order customizable pieces that are entirely unique. Whether you’re a fan of Givenchy, Dior, Balenciaga and Chanel, or more cutting-edge designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier and Pascal Millet, your style expert will be something like a personal shopper, working closely with you to build the new wardrobe you’re dreaming of.

If you’re more interested in bags, accessories and jewelry, or are in the market for a bespoke new perfume, your private shopping tour will revolve around visits to high-end French gem and jewelry designers in Paris such as Cartier, De Beers and Piaget, perfumers such as Serge Lutens and the Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and luxury accessory and bags designers including Louis Vuitton, Hermes/Jane Birkin, Moreau Paris and Darris Paris. Once again, you’ll be given VIP access to collections and private viewings not generally available to the wider public, and have the option of commissioning one-of-a-kind pieces.

Finally, if it’s antiques, fine art or wine that you’re most interested in acquiring, your private guide will lead you to luxury auctions, appointments at fine antique shops with expert sellers, meetings with wine and art dealers– the sky’s the limit. Our goal is to help you acquire precious pieces that will be cornerstones in your collection, from fine vintages to 18th-century furniture and prized works of art. We’ll unlock exclusive addresses and meetings with some of the capital’s most prestigious dealers, ensuring you make some true finds.

Of course, if many or most of these interest you, your bespoke itinerary can be crafted to include all of the above. The essence of a VIP tour is, after all, to perfectly fulfill your wishes and interests– and that’s our first objective.

Read related: The Best Luxury Perfumers and Perfume Shops in Paris

Read related: How to Have Private, High-End Gastronomic Experiences in Paris

Gain an insider glimpse into french style trends & culture..

Of course, a VIP shopping tour also wouldn’t be one if it simply involved simple visits to high-street boutiques: after all, you don’t need a private guide to window shop. Instead, your carefully tailored shopping tour can be upgraded and complemented by attending events that will give you a true insider’s look into present-day French (and global) style trends. Privacy and exclusivity is the name of the game.

This might involve attending events and exhibitions at Paris Fashion Week that are open to the public in small numbers only; runway shows at high-end department stores such as Printemps and Galeries Lafayette (these run year-round, so there’s always an opportunity to see firsthand what the latest trends are in couture), and visits to fashion ateliers and houses, where a select number of guests are allowed in to see the secrets behind the stitches. One example of a private visit we especially recommend is to Chanel House, at 31 Rue Cambon. Not only can you witness the timeless beauty of legendary designer Coco Chanel’s former apartment and workroom: you can also visit the boutique to view new designs and even order custom-made pieces.

For something a bit more contemporary and edgy, visit the City of Fashion and Design, located right on the banks of the Seine River and featuring boutiques and ateliers from up-and-coming designers, exhibition spaces, special fashion events, runway shows and more. The cafes and restaurants in the area are wonderful places to people-watch, too.

Read related: The Most Luxurious Places for Tea and Pastries in Paris

Bespoke shopping meets bespoke beauty: indulge in luxurious moments of calm..

Shopping can be an exhausting venture, especially if you’re hoping to come away with jewelry, accessories and/or fine items for your home as well as clothing. With that in mind, your bespoke shopping tour of the French capital can easily include some luxurious moments of self-pampering and relaxation. Your personal tour designer can schedule a session at one of Paris’ most-coveted spas or beauty institutes after a morning or afternoon of shopping, for example. You might enjoy a facial, full-body treatment, relaxing steamroom, or makeover with a top beauty specialist.

If a gourmet indulgence is more your speed, why not take high afternoon tea at the Ritz, where Coco Chanel herself once lived? Or enjoy a gastronomic lunch complete with champagne at the Restaurant Alain Ducasse, situated within the sumptuous walls of the Plaza Athéneé Hotel? You might also want to enjoy a glass of wine and a delicious pastry on one of Paris’ many stunning rooftop bars, enjoying panoramic views and gorgeous decor.

Read related: The Most Luxurious Places to Visit in Normandy, Including Spas

Read related: these paris museums are also perfect for private luxury events, learn about fashion history to better appreciate current trends..

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Co-design a VIP Fashion & Shopping Tour of Paris

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Shopping tours in paris.

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Paris Flea Market Small-Group Guided Tour with Chats and Antiques Dealers

2. Shopping Outlet La Vallée Village Round-Trip Transport from Paris

3. The Fashionista Experience: Personal Shopping and Styling in Paris (Teenagers)

4. Paris shopping tour with a personal shopper (full day)

5. Private shopping tour at the Paris Antique Flea Market

6. Private Proposal Professional Photo Shoot - Paris

7. Marché Madness

8. Sweet Gourmet Walk in the Marais

9. Niche Perfume 4-Hour Private Consultation and Tour in Paris

10. Private Tour: Opera Garnier and Passages Couverts

11. Small Group Paris Saint Ouen Flea Market Walking Tour

12. Paris Discovery Tour : private shopping with a fashion expert in Paris

13. Shopping support

14. The Covered Passages of Paris: Small-Group Walking Tour

15. Paris Shopping Spree & Walking Tour with a Local Guide

16. Shopping in Paris: Small-Group Fashion and Fragrance Insider Tour in the Marais

17. Shop Paris like a Local: Unique French Handcrafted Products (Small Group Tour)

18. Private tour of Eiffel & la Vallee village with CDG Transfers

19. Vintage Shopping with a guide in Paris

20. True Parisian Shopping Experience a Private Activity

21. 6 hours Paris Evening Tour with Montparnasse and Paradis Latin

22. 12-hours Paris City Tour with Cruise Lunch, Montparnasse and Crazy Horse Visit

23. Private Paris City Tour and shopping in La Vallée Village

24. 7 hours Private tour of Eiffel Tower with shopping at la Vallee village

25. CDG Transfer with Paris tour,Cruise Lunch,Montparnasse &cabaret

26. Paris Shopping Tour: Discount Couture

27. Full Day Paris Shopping By Luxury Car

28. one day of shopping of the best wines in Burgundy (day-trip from PARIS)

29. Half day private round transfer to La Vallée Village from Paris

30. 6 hours Paris Evening Tour with Montparnasse and Crazy horse

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• Sweet Gourmet Walk in the Marais
• Paris Flea Market Small-Group Guided Tour with Chats and Antiques Dealers
• Shopping Outlet La Vallée Village Round-Trip Transport from Paris
• Paris Le Marais Hidden Gems Small Group or Private Tour Options
• The Fashionista Experience: Personal Shopping and Styling in Paris (Teenagers)
• Fabulous You Paris
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Coupe de France: "Cette équipe est venue faire un amical", Larqué allume Rennes après la défaite au Parc

Mercredi soir au Parc des Princes, le Stade Rennais est tombé face à plus fort en demi-finales de la Coupe de France. C'est en tout cas le constat que faisait l'entraîneur du club breton Julien Stéphan après l'élimination de ses joueurs face au PSG (1-0) .

Et nul doute que sans la très belle prestation de Steve Mandanda dans les buts, qui a repoussé presque toutes les tentatives de Kylian Mbappé , l'addition aurait pu être plus lourde pour les Rouge et Noir.

"Cette équipe de Rennes n'a jamais eu le sentiment qu'elle disputait une demi-finale de Coupe de France"

Ce jeudi dans Rothen s'enflamme sur RMC, Jean-Michel Larqué est revenu sur la rencontre. Et si Stéphan évoquait "sa frustration de s'être fait contrer en première mi-temps" , notre consultant regrettait quant à lui le manque d'ambition des Rennais dans cette partie.

"J'ai regardé quelques matchs de Rennes ces temps-ci, je dois être un chat noir car je les ai vus jouer contre Lorient à domicile (défaite 1-2) et c'était d'une mollesse incroyable. Et quand on regarde les vaincus de ces deux demi-finales de la Coupe de France, celui qui s'est le plus battu et qui s'est montré à la hauteur du rendez-vous c'est Valenciennes contre Lyon (défaite 3-0). Hier (mercredi), c'est un résultat en trompe-l'oeil. Heureusement qu'ils ont Mandanda dans cette équipe, il a la chance et le talent sur la frappe qu'il dévie sur la barre, il va chercher le penalty... Il faut que ce soit un ballon dévié par ce pauvre Omari pour faire but..."

"Je trouve que cette équipe de Rennes n'a jamais eu le sentiment qu'elle disputait une demi-finale de Coupe de France, avec des joueurs d'une passivité incroyable. Que ce soit Blas, Gouiri... Je n'ai rien vu dans cette équipe qui me laisse à penser qu'elle avait dans la tête de gêner cette équipe de Paris, qui n'a pas fait un grand match. Même à 1-0, il n'y a rien eu, même pas un peu de révolte, d'agressivité, un peu d'investissement... Cette équipe de Rennes est venue hier au Parc des Princes faire un match amical, et c'est ce que je lui reproche. Une demi-finale de Coupe de France, ce n'est pas un match amical, et les supporters bretons méritaient mieux que cette triste prestation."

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What do tickets cost for yankees-blue jays home opener in the bronx.

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The New York Yankees are headed home.

After two series on the road — where they notched an impressive 6-1 record — Aaron Boone’s club will finally return to Yankee Stadium to take on the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, April 5 to kick off a six-game home stand.

And if you want to see Marcus Stroman make his home debut against Blue Jays hurler Yusei Kikuchi, it isn’t too late to scoop up last-minute tickets.

At the time of publication, prices start at $83 before fees on Vivid Seats.

For those hoping to get closer to the action, 100-level seats can be snagged for $188 before fees.

As an added bonus, all fans will be given an Opening Day Commemorative Ticket.

Not too shabby.

Can’t wait to head to the ballpark in the Bronx Bronx to see Judge, Soto, Rizzo, Volpe, and Stanton mash in pinstripes?

You’re in the right place, Yanks fans.

We’ve got everything you need to know and more about the Yankees 2024 home opener against the Blue Jays below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

New York Yankees Opening Day tickets 2024

A complete breakdown of all the best prices on tickets at Yankee Stadium for Opening Day can be found below.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

New York Yankees 2024 home game tickets

Hoping to head uptown to Yankee Stadium later this season?

We recommend checking out our breakdown of all the best prices on Yankees home game tickets here .

If you prefer a cut-and-dry calendar, you can find the  Yankees complete 2024 schedule — including away games — here .

Yankee Stadium seating chart

Never been out to a game?

You can get a lay of the land by checking out a map of Yankee Stadium here:

How to watch the Yankees in 2024

For those that can’t make it out to the Bronx this Friday, no need to freak.

You can still catch all games on the YES Network via DirecTV.

For those outside of the Yankees home market, we recommend watching via MLB.tv.

Yankees news

To close the Bronx Bombers’ second series of the season, Aaron Judge belted an extra-innings home run to secure a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This wasn’t no ordinary four-bagger, though.

If you want to find out what made this dinger so special, you can find the story about the impressive HR here .

Looking for more scoops?  Click here to find all of the New York Post’s Yankees stories.

Huge concert tours in 2024

Want to jam out at a show this year?

We’ve got you covered there, too.

Here are just five of the biggest acts you won’t want to miss live over the next few months.

•  Rolling Stones

•  Neil Young

•  Aventura

•  Vampire Weekend

•  Green Day with Smashing Pumpkins

Need even more options? Check out our list of the  50 biggest tours in 2024 here  to find the concert for you.

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