Let yourself be guided by our “City of Art and History” speaker guides! Essential visits not to be missed to discover the best of the city.
Duration: 1h30 - Price: from 7€ A guided tour of the royal city of Tours. Take a guided tour of the sites and monuments that bear witness to one of Tours' most creative periods. Tours became the capital of the kingdom for 80 years from 1440, when Louis XI took up residence in the château du Plessis-lès-Tours. Trade and crafts, particularly silk weavers from Italy, benefited from the presence of the court, which also enriched the local bourgeoisie. In the early years of the 16th century, with the emergence of the First Renaissance, Tours was adorned with buildings featuring new shapes and decorations. Gothic tradition and Italian modernity rubbed shoulders in these exceptional works.
Duration: 1h30 - Price: from €7 Led by a guide, the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office and the City of Tours are offering a themed tour of the Courteline district. Under the Ancien Régime, the city of Tours developed as successive city walls were built. In the 19th century, with the annexation of Saint-Étienne-Extra, the city confirmed its southward expansion. The second half of the 19th century was marked by the proliferation of major urban development projects to meet the growing need for housing. Finally, the annexation of the communes of Saint-Symphorien and Sainte-Radegonde in 1964 extended the municipal territory northwards. Bookings must be made in advance at the Tourist Office or online. No sales on site.
Duration : 1h30 - Price : 15 € Total immersion in 13th-century medieval Tours Rediscover Tours guided by Mahaut, the intrepid daughter of a Crusader militiaman. Embodied by your tour guide in period battle dress, explore together a city with a rich past. Soak up Tours' dual identity, with the bishop reigning over his cathedral to the east and the spiritual and economic blossoming of Martinopole to the west. As the bells ring out, feel the dust of the streets and the energy of the pilgrims converging on the sacred relics of Saint Martin. Discover how money, faith and steel wove together the fabric of this vibrant era. Mahaut breaks the shackles of medieval stereotypes about the role of women while fiercely protecting her city's treasures. Join her as she wields the sword of knowledge through the medieval streets of Tours!
Duration: 1h30 - Price: from €7 Led by a guide, the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office and the City of Tours are offering a themed tour of the Colbert district. One of the oldest districts in the city, the Colbert district gradually developed in the Middle Ages on the land of religious establishments. This link between the city and Châteauneuf still bears the traces of this flourishing era. Medieval and Renaissance dwellings, squares, public and religious buildings are just some of the features to be discovered on this tour. Bookings must be made in advance at the Tourist Office or online. No ticket sales on site.