Hotel de Ville

The half-timbered medieval houses line lanes date from Roman times. At its heart, relaxed Place Plumereau, the centre of Tours’ nightlife, is filled to the brim with café tables.

The beautiful stained glass windows illuminate Cathedral St Gatien. This majestic building includes Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, a real gem for everyone interested in architecture.

In these lovely Gothic-Renaissance cloisters, an elaborate open-sided staircase spirals up to elegant galleries. The round tower alongside was part of the city’s Roman wall.

Hôtel Goüin / Musée Archéologique is home of a 15th-century silk merchant and a masterpiece of ornate, lavish Renaissance decoration inside and out. This is Tours’ main historical museum.

This unique museum deals with the history of craft guilds that represented rope makers, wood turners, clog makers and similar occupations. The museum was created in honour of fine workmanship. Right next to the museum you can find another museum about wine.

If you want to go out for a relaxing walk, the Loire is a great place to head for. You will find walkways alongside the river, perfect for pleasant and quiet walks beside the water.

At Musée des Beaux Arts you can find works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Degas and Delacroix, all gathered here in the old Archbishops’ Palace. In the courtyard there is a 200-year-old tree and a 100-year-old stuffed circus elephant.

Except for the greenhouses and lush greenery in the summer months, this Botanical Garden also houses a mini-zoo (which will surely delight the little ones), as well as many picnic-perfect areas.

Place Plumereau is a bustling Tours city square that comes alive in the evenings, when students flock to it and restaurants start getting filled with people. Dining options abound in and around the area.

Not at all a hotel, but rather Tours' City Hall, this imposing edifice is a must-see architectural landmark. Lit up by night, the building and the fountain complex next to it make for a somewhat magical sight.