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 Discover Saint Gatien Cathedral, its district and its stained glass windows with a tour guide. The Saint-Gatien district is one of the oldest and most characteristic in Tours. It was the seat of Caesarodunum in the 1st century AD, and became a Roman capital before becoming a religious centre under the authority of the bishops and then the archbishops. This part of the city has preserved some ancient architectural features that reveal the urban development of Tours. This guided tour provides an opportunity to learn more about the history of the Cathedral and its stained glass windows, which were first restored by Lucien-Ernest Fournier's workshop in Tours before the Second World War and then twice in the 1990s and 2000s. This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.
Duration: 1h15 - Price: from €9 With its monumental staircase and Italian-style auditorium, listed as a historic monument since 2024, the Grand Théâtre - Opéra de Tours, located in the city's historic quarter, was inspired by its famous Parisian counterpart. Every year, it presents a season of opera, symphony and children's shows, as well as recitals and chamber music concerts. With its permanent choir, the Grand Théâtre has also been home to the Orchestre Symphonique Région Centre-Val de Loire/Tours since 2002. This small-group guided tour explores the history and splendour of the venue, exploring the peristyle, the public foyer and the auditorium.
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 : 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.