How to Spend a Perfect Day in Tours with Itinerary Map

Plumereau Square

Tours

Check Point
・Base for visiting the castles of the Loire

・Old town lined with half-timbered houses

・Magnificent Gothic cathedral

【City description】

It’s a town between Loire river and Cher river. We stay in this town to visit other castles. In the epoch of Louis 11th, this town was the French capital. We can find traditional woody buildings in the old area.

【Overall rating】

 ★★★☆☆

【Time required】

 4 h 30

【Budget】

 13.20 euros

【Fatigue】

 ★★★☆☆



Itinerary Map

Navigation

【Start】
①Tours Station

★Go to Bernard Palissy St in front of the station.

②Tourist Information Center

★Continue to walk on the street and turn right when you arrive at a park. It takes 10 minutes.

③Art Museum

★Go to Lavoisier St in front of the museum.

④St-Gatien Cathedral

★Continue to walk on the street for 5 minutes.

⑤Tours Castle

★Go straight on Colbert St to visit the center street. There are many restaurants. It takes 15 minutes.

⑥Saint-Julien Basilic

★Continue to walk on the street for 10 minutes.

⑦Plumereau Square

★Go to Change St and turn left at the end.

⑧Charlemagne Tower

⑨St-Martin Basilic

⑨St-Martin Basilic

★Go to the street in front of the tower and turn right when you arrive at Nationale St with the tramway rail. It takes 20 minutes.

⑩Jean Jaurès Square

★Go to Heurteloup Boulevard to return to the station. It takes 10 minutes.

【Goal】
Tours Station


Click the square mark on the top left of the map to see a list of tourist spots. If you open the enlarge button on the top right corner on your smartphone, this model course will be displayed on Google Maps along with its location information. You can also quickly return to this map from the table of contents in the sidebar (if using a smartphone, select “Go to table of contents” from the menu at the bottom of the screen).



【Start】

①Tours Station

Gare de Tours

★Go to Bernard Palissy St in front of the station.


②Tourist Information Center

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Click here to collect information such as maps. You can book a tour of the castles of the Loire here.

★Continue to walk on the street and turn right when you arrive at a park. It takes 10 minutes.


③Art Museum

Art Museum

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Time required: 60 min

Admission fee: 8.40 euros

Opening hour: 9 am – 6 pm
(open at 9 h 30 am on Monday)

Close: Tuesday, 1/1, 5/1, 7/14, 11/1, 11/11, 12/25

This museum was built in a renovated 17th century bishop’s palace. For this reason, there are many rooms in the mansion that are decorated with works of art. The flowers in the garden are in full bloom in the spring, and the design changes every year. A model of an elephant that once came to this town is displayed at the entrance to the site.

A model of an elephant


★Go to Lavoisier St in front of the museum.


④St-Gatien Cathedral

St-Gatien Cathedral

Cathédral St-Gatien

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 9 am – 7 pm

Close: No

This is a Gothic cathedral completed in the 16th century. As it took centuries to complete, it incorporates many different architectural styles. The stained glass is very beautiful, and there are various religious paintings and patterns on it, so it’s worth seeing. You can enter the adjacent corridor for a fee and view special exhibitions.


★Continue to walk on the street for 5 minutes.


⑤Tours Castle

Tours Castle

Château de Tours

Time required: 30 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 2 pm – 6 pm

Close: Monday

This castle is located very close to the Loire River and is notable for its adjacent tower. It is small compared to other castles in this region, and currently holds special exhibitions.

★Go straight on Colbert St to visit the center street. There are many restaurants. It takes 15 minutes.


⑥Saint-Julien Basilic

Saint-Julien Basilic

Basilique Saint-Julien

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

The church is located right next to a bridge over the Loire River, and the interior is not open to the public. Nearby is the Musée du Compagnonnage, where the masterpieces of artisans are exhibited, so if you are interested, please stop by.

Companionship Museum
Musée du Compagnonnage
Time required: 60 min
Admission fee: 6.20 euros
Opening hour: 9 am – 12 h 30 / 2 pm – 6 pm
Close: 1/1, 5/1, 7/14, 11/1, 11/11, 12/25


★Continue to walk on the street for 10 minutes.


⑦Plumereau Square

Plumereau Square

Place Plumereau

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

It is the most prosperous square in the old town, lined with half-timbered houses, and is always crowded with people. There are many restaurants in this area, so it’s a good idea to have a meal around here.

Let’s enjoy the famous dishes of Tours! !

bushel

Tours has a specialty called the bushel. It is made with sheep kidney, beef, pork, and mushrooms stewed in a mustard and cream sauce. When I had it at a restaurant, it was placed on top of pasta. Check out other Loire region specialties here! !


★Go to Change St and turn left at the end.


⑧Charlemagne Tower

Charlemagne Tower

Tour Charlemagne

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

It’s not accessible in the interior.

★As you walk along the street in front of the tower, you will see the church on your left.


⑨St-Martin Basilic

St-Martin Basilic

Basilique St-Martin

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 7 h 30 am – 7 pm
(until 9 pm in summer)

Close: No

Both ⑧ and ⑨ were originally part of the same church, but the Basilica of Saint-Martin was rebuilt in the 19th century after being destroyed by fire many times and remains. Tower ⑧ dates from the 12th century and incorporates Romanesque style. The interior of the cathedral is wide with a dome-shaped ceiling, and has a splendid structure with marble columns and red Virgin Roads. Materials introducing the life of Saint Martin, for whom this church is named, are also displayed. The underground chapel is also a highlight.


★Go to the street in front of the tower and turn right when you arrive at Nationale St with the tramway rail. It takes 20 minutes.


⑩Jean Jaurès Square

Jean Jaurès Square

Place Jean Jaurès

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

This is the square where the courthouse and city hall are located. Both buildings are magnificent and worth seeing.


★Go to Heurteloup Boulevard to return to the station. It takes 10 minutes.



【Goal】

Tours Station



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