Tours, Administrative capital in Centre-Val de Loire, France
Tours is an administrative capital in Centre-Val de Loire that stretches along the Loire and combines historical quarters with half-timbered medieval houses. The streets wind around Saint-Gatien Cathedral, while broad 19th-century boulevards separate the old quarters from the modern business district, where glass facades stand beside stone Renaissance palaces.
The city gained importance in 732 when Charles Martel defeated advancing Muslim forces at the Battle of Tours, marking a turning point in European history. During the Middle Ages it developed into an important religious center with pilgrimage routes, before later centuries brought destruction and rebuilding through wars and urban renewal projects.
Daily markets at Place des Halles bring together residents and farmers from the surrounding countryside, selling regional products like goat cheese and rillettes. In the evening, squares in the old town become gathering spots where people sit outside and drink Loire wine, while students from around the world animate the terraces with conversation and laughter.
The tram system connects the main attractions and makes it easier to navigate between the scattered neighborhoods of the city. The central train station offers direct connections to Paris in about an hour by high-speed rail, making day trips possible in both directions.
Place Plumereau forms the heart of the medieval old town and presents a collection of preserved 15th-century timber-framed houses surrounding an open square. The restaurants and cafes under the arcades use the old structures, with some cellars dating back to Roman times and now serving as wine storage.
Location: Indre-et-Loire
Location: canton of Tours-Centre
Location: canton of Tours-Est
Location: canton of Tours-Nord-Est
Location: canton of Tours-Nord-Ouest
Location: canton of Tours-Ouest
Location: canton of Tours-Sud
Location: canton of Tours-Val-du-Cher
Location: arrondissement of Tours
Elevation above the sea: 70 m
Shares border with: Chambray-lès-Tours, Joué-lès-Tours, Mettray, Notre-Dame-d'Oé, Parçay-Meslay, La Riche, Rochecorbon, Saint-Avertin, Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, Saint-Pierre-des-Corps
Address: Tours, France
Phone: +33247216000
Email: webmestre@ville-tours.fr
Website: https://tours.fr
GPS coordinates: 47.39005,0.68893
Latest update: December 3, 2025 07:35
This collection brings together the 50 most populous cities of France, from the metropolis to overseas territories. It includes the major urban centers shaping the national territory, from Paris with its capital status to regional metropolises like Marseille with its Mediterranean port, Lyon where the Rhône and Saône meet, or Toulouse with its aerospace industry. These cities represent the main economic, cultural, and administrative hubs of the country. The selection covers all French regions and illustrates the diversity of territories: dense communes in Île-de-France, southern cities like Nice on the Côte d'Azur and Montpellier near the Mediterranean, eastern cities such as Strasbourg hosting the European Parliament, northern centers like Lille close to Belgium, or Bordeaux known for its architecture and vineyards. From Nantes, former capital of the Dukes of Brittany, to communes of La Réunion, this collection offers a complete overview of major French urban areas and invites exploration of their history, heritage, and unique vitality.
The bodies of water in Centre-Val de Loire include natural lakes, ponds, and artificial reservoirs. The region features Lake Éguzon for water sports, the Brenne ponds forming a mosaic of 2000 water bodies, and recreational bases like Lake Bretonnières. These sites offer opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and bird watching. The Briare Canal and Loire River also run through the region. The Sologne ponds and Orléans forest ponds are natural areas with beaches and trails.
Cathédrale Saint-Gatien
741 m
Basilica of St. Martin, Tours
572 m
Tours railway station
355 m
Château de Tours
860 m
Château de Plessis-lez-Tours
2.3 km
Pont Wilson
1.1 km
Roman amphitheatre of Tours
820 m
Hôtel de Ville de Tours
68 m
Enceinte gallo-romaine de Tours
696 m
Tour Charlemagne
602 m
Bretonneau hospital
1.6 km
Abbaye Saint-Julien
656 m
Grand Théâtre de Tours
502 m
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours
729 m
Hôtel Goüin
636 m
Abbaye de Beaumont
1.5 km
Église Saint-Julien de Tours
653 m
Jardin botanique de Tours
1.7 km
Grand Hall
2.8 km
Imprimerie Mame
1.5 km
Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé
658 m
Gallo-Roman Temple of Tours
380 m
Enceinte Châteauneuf
509 m
Halles de Tours
639 m
Library of Tours
812 m
Tour de l'Horloge
602 m
Municipal sports center
913 m
Pont suspendu de Saint-Symphorien
1.1 kmReviews
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