Must-Sees for October

Duration: 3 days - Price: €45
Three days to take your time exploring Tours and the Touraine region! The 72-hour Tours City Pass lets you explore the “Calder au cœur de la France” event, from museum to castle, while enjoying the many visits, discoveries, and experiences included in the Pass.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Alexander Calder’s passing, the Ar(t]chipel festival, in partnership with the Centre-Val de Loire Region and the Centre Pompidou, is offering an exceptional program from October 15 to November 1.

The Tours venues for the event are included in your Tours City Pass:

• Olivier Debré Center for Contemporary Art (CCC OD) in Tours: two exhibitions exploring Calder’s work and its influence on contemporary art.
• Tours Museum of Fine Arts: discover, in particular, his famous portraits and wire figures.
• Hôtel Goüin in Tours: see a monumental Calder installation as well as a selection of works on paper.
• Azay-le-Rideau Castle: admire *Reims* and *Croix du Sud*, iconic sculptures installed in the castle’s grounds.
• Rivau Castle in Léméré (50 minutes from Tours), exceptionally accessible with the Pass from October 15 to November 1, 2026: discover various facets of Calder’s work through film and sculptures.
• Calder’s Studio in Saché, where he lived and worked for over twenty years: immerse yourself in his world and his story (free admission with reservation).

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes - Price: from €27

What if the terroir told its story as much on the plate as it does in the glass?
 

Set out to discover Touraine—known for centuries as the “Garden of France”—during an immersive tasting experience that blends flavors, heritage, and wine knowledge.

Guided by a wine expert, you’ll learn to decode the pairings between wines and garden produce. Throughout the tasting, you’ll compare different varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs to explore the richness of the garden’s flavors and their influence on how you perceive the wine.

A sensory experience that invites you to observe, smell, taste, and share, all while discovering the history and identity of a region where cultural diversity and a mild climate have shaped an exceptional terroir.
 

A convivial, surprising, and gourmet tasting experience to rediscover the treasures of the “Garden of France” through the interplay between food and wine.

Duration:  1h30 - Price: from €12
A guided tour of the landscape and monumental dimensions of Marmoutier Abbey and a discovery of the archaeological remains.

Surrounded by a cliff, in a meander of the Loire, the site of Marmoutier stands out for its tranquillity and picturesque character. It was on this site, occupied since ancient times, that Saint Martin founded a small hermitage in the 4^th century, which rapidly developed into a prestigious abbey of considerable influence. Restored and maintained until the French Revolution, the abbey was partly demolished in the 19^th century. Since 1981, the City of Tours has owned the hillside and adjoining land where most of the old buildings that have survived are located. Every summer, the site hosts a programmed archaeological dig, which you can discover on this tour.
This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

Duration: 2h - Price: from 7€
From the founding of Tours in the 1st century to the flourishing of the Renaissance, discover the city through the key dates in its history under the guidance of a tour guide.

The city of Tours was founded in the 1st century on the left bank of the Loire. In the Middle Ages, two distinct areas developed: one built around the Cathedral, the other around a huge collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin, the Châteauneuf area, also known as Old Tours. Tours was the royal capital from 1440 to 1520, and at the end of the Middle Ages and beginning of the Renaissance, almost all of the city's residences were rebuilt. From this flourishing period, the town inherited a homogeneous collection of old houses and religious buildings, which you can discover on this tour.

This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

Duration : 1h30 - Prices : from 7€ 

Duration : 1h30 - Price : 7€
Take a guided tour of the emblematic Vieux Tours district, which stretches around Place Plumereau, led by a tour guide.

Medieval timber-framed and stone houses stand side by side with exceptional town houses. These homes bear witness to the prosperity of this part of the town, which grew up around a huge collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin. Once home to the body of the saint, it was the centre of one of the oldest pilgrimages in Christendom.
This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

Duration: 1h30 - Price: from 7€
Immerse yourself in the work of mosaicist Sante Vallar as you explore the colorful mosaics of downtown Tours. Accompanied by a tour guide, you'll learn more about Sante Vallar and the place of mosaics in the city in the early 20th century, from the revival of mosaics to Vallar's prolific creations and today's renewed interest.


This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

Duration : 1h30 - Price : from €7
A guided walking tour that surprises with the diversity of contemporary expression that Tours has inspired.

Various artists have worked in the city, from private commissions such as the Gambetta parking lot, to free works, some visible to all, others more discreet. Led by a tour guide, this visit will enable you to discover the different forms of expression that street art covers in Tours: painting, collage, ceramics and more.

This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

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.

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

Chambord - Chenonceau
Validity: 1 year - Price: from €38

With the Pass Châteaux “The Icons”, treat yourself to an immersive experience at the heart of the Loire Valley’s two most emblematic monuments: Chambord and Chenonceau.

The château de Chambord impresses with its monumental architecture and its famous double-helix staircase. A symbol of royal power and the French art of living, it embodies all the grandeur of the Loire Valley castles.

Nicknamed the “Ladies’ Castle,” Chenonceau charms visitors with its unique elegance, its architecture spanning the Cher River, and its history shaped by exceptional women. A true Renaissance gem, it is one of the most visited and beloved sites in the Loire Valley.

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

Highlights

• Your key to visiting the two most famous sites in the Loire Valley
• A single pass for access to two must-see sites
• A digital pass, convenient and easy to use

Chinon - Azay-le-Rideau - Villandry - Langeais
Validity: 1 year - Price: €48

With the Pass Château “The Authentics”, explore four must-see destinations: the Royal Fortress de Chinon the château d’Azay-le-Rideau, the château and gardens de Villandry, and the château de Langeais.

On the banks of the Vienne River, discover the Royal Fortress de Chinon and its thousand years of history. Henry II Plantagenet, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Joan of Arc all left their mark here. Today, this medieval castle comes to life through reenactments, interactive tours, and family-friendly activities within its ramparts.
The must-see exhibition: “Royal Treasures”, May 24 through November 2, featuring 60 works bequeathed by the kings, queens, and princes of French history.

Built during the reign of Francis I, the château d’Azay-le-Rideau appears to float on 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”, 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.

Another must-see stop in the Loire Valley: the château de Langeais. With its drawbridge, towers, and moat right in the heart of town, a trip back in time is guaranteed! This 15th-century fortified site was notably the setting for a royal wedding: that of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII. In the park, a lookout point and a massive treehouse built in an Atlas cedar offer breathtaking views of the castle and the Loire Valley!

The Pass “The Authentics”, valid for one year from the date of purchase, gives you simple and convenient access to these four sites on a single pass.

Highlights

• An ideal way to journey through history
• A single pass for access to four must-see sites
• A digital pass, convenient and easy to use

Duration: 1 hour - Price: €32 for 2 persons
A visit to the Cave de Vouvray is a real journey into the world of Vouvray. A journey in several stages, from vine to glass. Discover our new mediation space ‘Follow the Chenin’ where a sound and visual immersion in the world of cooperation awaits you. Follow our guide through 3 kilometres of troglodytic galleries where 6 million bottles are kept. He'll reveal the secrets of how our still and sparkling Vouvray wines are made. Your visit will end with a convivial tasting!

Duration: 3h - Price: €40
Immerse yourself for a few hours in a working family winery. It's a complete tour, from the grapes and vines to the glass of wine, that Myriam offers on this guided tour. 

Duration: 1h30 - Price: €22
Located 45 km from Tours, Château Minière, a committed Bourgueil vineyard, offers visitors the chance to discover the vineyard's finest organic and biodynamic wines, accompanied by a platter of charcuterie and cheese.
Visits are available every day, at several different times.

Duration: 1h00 - Price: €8
Visit our vineyard in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil for an immersive tour of our winery and cellar, discovering our winemaking expertise. Throughout the tour, trace the history of the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation, following in the footsteps of our ancestor Adrien Ory, the appellation's founder. The tour concludes with a guided tasting of our wines, a reflection of our terroir and family heritage:

• Red wine from Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
• Red wine from Bourgueil
• Dry and aromatic white wine from the IGP Val de Loire
• Dry and fruity Bourgueil rosé wine
• Crémant de Loire White and Rosé

Duration: 1h30 - Price: €16
Step into this unique place and discover wines steeped in history and terroir. The troglodyte cellar of Domaine de la Chopinière du Roy, located in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, is home to unique vintages, carefully preserved in an authentic setting.
After the tour and tasting of an old vintage, you’ll have the chance to sample the estate’s current cuvées, offering a great opportunity to compare aged wines with more recent ones.
Discover our Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil wines, Bourgueil wines and Loire wines, typical of the region:

• Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 100% Cabernet Franc
• Bourgueil 100% Cabernet Franc
• Dry, aromatic Chenin Blanc
• Rosé dry and fruity
• Crémant de Loire White and Rosé