In Tours, the cultural offerings range from Gothic architectural history, art and natural history to botanical collections. Options also include a guided climb up the Tour Charlemagne and a walking tour with regional tastings. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tours, you can first consider whether architecture, museums, nature or food will shape your stay.
Architectural history and museums
The Cathédrale Saint-Gatien was built from 1170 to 1575 and is a Gothic landmark in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Its construction spanned more than four centuries. The Tour Charlemagne once towered over the northern transept of the medieval collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin. Today, you can climb the tower as part of a guided visit. As the schedule may change, check the tour details before your visit.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours is located in the former bishop’s palace near the cathedral in Vieux-Tours. Its collections span from antiquity to contemporary art. The museum holds nearly 18,000 objects, of which 1,000 are on display; the number of objects on display may change. The museum therefore offers both a historic architectural setting and a broad time span for its art collections.
The Musée du Compagnonnage is housed in the former Saint-Julien Abbey and is classified as a “Musée de France.” The former abbey site and the former bishop’s palace offer two distinct architectural settings for museum visits in Tours. Together with the cathedral and the Tour Charlemagne, they provide starting points for a stay focused on architectural history.
Natural history and botanical themes
The Muséum d’Histoire naturelle offers permanent and temporary scientific exhibitions; the exhibition program may change. Live snakes, lizards, turtles, fish and insects are on public display. The Muséum also presents rocks, fossils and stratigraphy from Touraine. Scientific exhibitions, live animals and geological themes are brought together here, without assuming that the displays of rocks and fossils are a permanent offering.
The Jardin Botanique de la Ville et de l’Université de Tours has been in existence since 1843, covers 5.9 hectares and is a notable place for walks and botanical education. Its facilities include greenhouses and plant collections. Animal enclosures featuring wallabies, emus, parrots and parakeets add to the botanical themes. Compared with the Muséum, the garden extends the natural history experience through its plant collections and animal areas.
Regional products and cycling
Le Gourmet Food Tours offers a walking tour of Les Halles and Tours. It includes meeting dedicated craftspeople and Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, as well as discovering and tasting regional products. As availability with the provider may change, check in advance whether the tour is offered on your preferred date. It is a separate option for travelers who want to include regional products and craftsmanship in their stay.
The cycling options in Tours include the La Loire Ă VĂ©lo route. It complements the cultural and museum offerings with a focus on cycling, without requiring a particular itinerary. You can choose what to focus on during your stay according to your interests: architectural history, art collections, natural history, botanical themes, regional tastings or cycling.
Tours in its regional context
In the wider regional context, Tours is one of the historic towns within the UNESCO-listed cultural landscape of the Loire Valley. This connection places the city within a broader cultural landscape; local points of interest range from the cathedral and historic museum buildings to art, natural history and gardens.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Martin-Le-Beau, Perrusson, Bléré, Chenonceaux, Saint-Nicolas-Des-Motets, Avrillé-les-Ponceaux, Epeigné-Les-Bois, Saint-Paterne-Racan
Go to the main travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
