Day 1 in Tours

Welcome to Tours, France! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.

The main town of the Loire Valley, this bustling city is particularly known for its good food and wine. This is a great reason to begin your afternoon at one of the many open-air cafes in the old town clustered around place Plumereau to try out some of the mouth-watering cuisine of the city.

After a relaxing lunch, enjoy a stroll of the historic quarter filled with old houses restored to their former glory. Wander the smaller, narrow streets like rue Briconnet to the historic medieval city. You`ll come across a Romanesque basilica, the Cloitre de St-Martin and the new Basilique de St-Martin. This is the place which was once on the great pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Wander around the streets to get your bearings and discover the treasures of the city.

As the evening approaches head to the cathedral side of rue Nationale where you`ll find plenty of great restaurants offering local specialty dishes. Some delicious local dishes to look out for include rillettes (coarse goose or pork pate), and ouillettes (tripe sausage), coq-au-vin in Chinon wine, and Ste Maure goat`s cheese.

If you still have the energy head over to Place Plumereau and rue Colbert after dinner to have a drink with the locals. Being a university town with a large student population, Tours has a lively nightlife. This area is the liveliest after sunset offering many trendy bars.

Day 2 in Tours

Wake up early and start your day visiting the markets in Tours, a great spot to grab some breakfast. The city offers more than 30 markets every day of the week, except Monday. The most animated are the gourmet market (Marché Gourmand) on place dela Résistance. If you`re interested in antiques, head to the pedestrian zone on rue de Bordeaux. The flower market takes place on Boulevard Beranger, and the craft market can be found on place des Halles. The covered market, Les Halles at Grand Marche, offers a huge selection of fresh local meat, cheese, and produce, located at place Gaston-Pailhou. You`ll want to be sure to check market days/times before heading out. These markets are a great place to shop and soak up the local atmosphere. Allow yourself to indulge in the local and regional specialties.

After wandering the local markets, head over to the Fine Arts Museum, housed in the former Archbishop`s palace which is now a listed Historic Monument. Opened in 1801 the museum offers a rich and varied collection of paintings from the 14th-century to the present day, as well as archaeological artifacts! Make sure to spend some time roaming the beautiful gardens of the museum. There is also a cedar tree in the garden of the Archbishop palace, famous for being planted by Napoleon.

Next to the river on the other side of the cathedral you can see the Chateau of Tours, although only two of the towers remain today. The Tour de Guise houses a Tropical Aquarium.

Continue your exploration of Tours by stopping at the Cathedral Saint-Gatien, an essential while in the city. This is one of the most important religious monuments in Tours and contains the tombs of the children of Charles VIII. Most notable, although part of the cathedral dates from the 12th-century, much of the western end was built in the 15th-century in so-called `flamboyant gothic` style. Adjacent to the cathedral are the cloisters of la Psalette, listed as a National Monument in France. This is a remarkable structure in a mix of architectural styles with detailed stonework and a beautiful renaissance staircase. In part of the cloisters you can see the room where religious chanting was practiced.

To make for a relaxing end to your day, take some time at one of the several public parks and gardens in Tours. We highly recommend the Botanic Gardens, which offers an extensive area of trees, gardens and water features, as well as a small animal park and exhibition greenhouses. This is a perfect change from the bustle of the city streets.

Spend your evening strolling the streets of Tours. Enjoy time shopping on rue Nationale toward the river where you`ll find shops and upscale boutiques, and a small mall with chain stores. In the pedestrian area of rue de Bordeaux, from the train station to rue Nationale, you`ll find dozens of mall-type shops and department stores selling clothes, shoes, jewelry, leather goods, and the like. Make some time to stop in many of the great restaurants you see along the way.

Day 3 in Tours

Spend the day today visiting some of the stunning châteaux`s in the Loire Valley. There are several of the most important castles within easy reach of Tours. We would recommend Château du Clos Lucé and its 7.4 acres. An interesting fact about this castle is that it served as the official residence of legendary artist, inventor, and scientist Leonardo da Vinci for about three years before his death. Da Vinci developed many of his most visionary inventions at Close Lucé. Here you`ll find a museum and park filled with prototypes of some of da Vinci`s most imaginative creations, including the machine gun, helicopter and paddle boat. You can also pay respects to da Vinci`s tomb itself.

Another noteworthy castle, the Château de Chambord, was built into its modern form in the early 16th-century. This is one of the most iconic of the Loire Valley and world`s most recognizable château. The castle has housed some of France`s most valuable national treasures and works of art, including the Mona Lisa at one time. It is possible to spend an entire day here with its interior exhibits, carriage rides, boat and bike rentals and walking trails through the forest. One of the main attractions of the castle is the most spectacular view from its towers.

Stroll through the gardens at the Château de Villandry. These gardens are renowned for their beauty - with a labyrinth, fruit and vegetable patches, grapevines, a grass court for tennis, and of course a massive amount of flower gardens and fountains and paths to explore. All you can say about the gardens is WOW!

After admiring the many beautiful castles of the region, head back to the hotel for a good night`s rest.

Additional Days in Tours

Should you be able to spend additional days in Tours we recommend you partake in some wine tasting at Bouvet-Ladubay. This is one of France`s best producers of sparkling wine and boasts no fewer than 10 miles of wine cellars. You`ll get to learn all about the process of making sparkling wine and the history of the caves of Bouvet Ladubay once used by monks. This winery even offers cycling tours.

Alternatively cycle around Orléans on the Loireà Vélo Cycle Path. This is a great way to ride in the valley - the scenic path goes through charming small towns, historical sites, some vineyards and more.

Your Last Day in Tours

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.