8 unusual places to declare your love this Valentine's Day

Any occasion is a good one for declaring your love to the one you've fallen in love with, but Valentine's Day is the perfect time to call on Cupid. We've selected 8 original venues in and around Tours to make your declaration unforgettable!

  • Jardins de l'amour au château et jardins de Villandry

    Villandry gardens © Souffleur de Breizh

    1. In the Andalusian-inspired "Jardin d'Amour" at the chateau of Villandry

    Adjacent to the château, the "Garden of Love" is made up of four Andalusian-inspired squares, structured to evoke different facets of love: "tender love", "passionate love", "fickle love" and "tragic love". It's up to you to choose your garden! Make no mistake...

    Gardens open all year round

    3, rue Principale - 37510 Villandry

    Reduced-rate tickets available from the Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office

  • tours-tourisme

    Pass Châteaux “Renaissance“

    Azay-le-Rideau - Villandry
    Validity: 1 year - Price: €28

    With the Pass Châteaux “Renaissance”, follow in the footsteps of two symbols of the Loire Valley: the château d’Azay-le-Rideau and the château & gardens de Villandry.

    Built during the reign of Francis I, the château d’Azay-le-Rideau appears to float on the water thanks to its famous “water mirror,” which reflects its Renaissance façade onto the Indre River. It’s impossible not to be moved by its architecture, which blends Gothic traditions with Italian influences! It’s also a sight to behold from the gardens along the water’s edge.
    The must-see exhibition: “Karen Knorr Lives in the Castle”, running from June 13 to November 1, a retrospective of more than forty years of work by the American photographer.

    At the château de Villandry, the famous Renaissance gardens take center stage. Designated a “Remarkable Garden”, they captivate visitors with their geometric flowerbeds, decorative ponds, and ornamental vegetable garden, which change with the seasons. The tour continues inside the château, built in the 18th century, where elegant furnishings, floral arrangements in every room, and a collection of antique Spanish paintings attest to the refinement of this historic residence. (Please note that the castle will be closed from November 12 through November 27, 2026, and from January 5 through February 6, 2027. However, the gardens will remain open during these periods.)

    The Pass “Renaissance”, valid for one year from the date of purchase, provides you with easy and convenient access to both sites on a single pass.

    Highlights

    • Castles and outdoor settings that invite you to take in the scenery
    • A single pass for access to two must-see sites
    • A digital pass, convenient and easy to use

  • Couple sur les bords de Loire en hiver

    © Léonard De Serres

    2. On the banks of the Loire

    The Loire, nicknamed the ‘royal river’, offers an exceptional natural panorama where you can meet up, stroll hand in hand or cycle, and enjoy a peaceful moment to the sound of lapping water as you confide your feelings.

    And to take your time, you can also opt for a hike on one of the 48 trails in the metropolitan area! Find our selection of routes in the article ‘Hiking around Tours’.

  • Domaine de Candé vu de l'extérieur

    © Stevens Frémont (CRT Centre-Val de Loire)

    3. At the Domaine de Candé in Monts

    Famous for having hosted the Duke of Windsor's wedding to the "commoner" Wallis Simpsons, this estate is an invitation to stroll and contemplate. It's the ideal place to open your heart to the surroundings of the château, in the shade of a century-old tree with an unobstructed view over the Indre valley.

    Route du Ripault in Monts

    Reduced-rate tickets available from the Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office

  • Le château de Chenonceau vu d'une montgolfière dans le ciel

    © JC Coutand (ADT 37)

    4. In the clouds aboard a hot-air balloon

    Like Alfy and Emily in the TV series Emily in Paris (season 3 episode 9), treat yourself to a romantic moment as you soar over the chateaux of the Loire Valley aboard a hot-air balloon in Touraine.

    Book your hot-air balloon flight HERE

  • Château Ussé - Credit JC Coutand (ADT37)

    © JC Coutand (ADT 37)

    5. Inside Château d'Ussé, the castle of Sleeping Beauty

    All you have to do is sing the song "J'en ai rêvé" from Walt Disney's famous cartoon in front of the Château d'Ussé, the inspiration for Charles Perrault's fairytale "Sleeping Beauty".

    Between the fairytale castle and the gardens designed by Le Nôtre, creator of the gardens at the Château de Versailles, the setting could not be more romantic.

    Château d'Ussé in Rigny-Ussé

  • Œuvre du street artiste Mifamosa à Tours

    Work by street artist Mifamosa in Tours

    6. Under Mifamosa's mosaic "Rue du Petit Cupidon"

    Orléans-based street artist Mifamosa brightens up French streets with his quirky, humorous mosaics. In Tours, between the Colbert and Blanqui districts, you'll find the Rue du Petit Cupidon. It features Cupidon, god of love in Greek mythology, and his arrow, famous for making people fall in love at first sight. Ideal for declaring your love!

    Rue du Petit Cupidon in Tours

  • Couple devant une oeuvre d'art contemporain au CCC OD

    © JC Coutand (ADT 37)

    7. In front of a work of contemporary art at CCC OD

    Art arouses emotions, conveys experience and stimulates the imagination... Yes, that's what it's all about! So don't wait any longer, express your emotions in a unique space dedicated to creation, the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré.

    Jardin François 1er, Tours

    Reduced-rate tickets available from the Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office

  • Le Monstre de Xavier Veilhan sur la place de Grand Marché à Tours

    © Léonard De Serres

    8. In front of the "Monstre" on the Place du Grand Marché, which will serve as a contemporary priest!

    Xavier Veilhan's "Monstre" is a must-see for Touraine residents, to the point of nicknaming the Place du Grand Marché "Place du Monstre". It may look impressive, but it'll look at you kindly and bless your love so that it lasts forever!

    Place du Grand Marché 37000 Tours