Tours Audio guided walking tour 2h00 and 22 audio commentary

Tours, once the capital of France, is full of history and culture to discover in one day. Stroll along the banks of the Loire, explore the majestic Saint-Gatien Cathedral and visit the Château de Tours. You will pass through emblematic places like the Passage du Coeur Navré and Place Plumereau, while enjoying the Gothic architecture and half-timbered houses. This walking tour is ideal for history and art lovers, offering an immersion in the heritage of Tourangeau. - Discover 22 must-see attractions in a single day - Route of about 5.4 km suitable for all levels - Guided tours with captivating historical anecdotes - Easy access to the emblematic sites of Tours

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   You now walk along the wild banks of the Loire. This river, which is the longest in France at 1006 kilometers, is also perhaps the most beautiful.

2. 2

   Chateau de Tours

   Pass by

   So, yes, right in the Loire Valley, with all these castles more sumptuous than each other, the castle of Tours is not the craziest you have ever seen.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   This little passage that we are taking now is called the passage of the heart. A kind of bridge of sighs that, as in Venice, evokes the sadness of the convicts who used this passage to go to the scaffolding erected on the square of Fair-Le-Roi.

4. 4

   Grand theatre de Tours

   Pass by

   Here you are, in front of the Grand Theatre, the only Opera in the Centre region! At the base, as with the famous Scalla Theatre in Milan, there was a church, the Church of the Cordeliers.

5. 5

   Cathedrale Saint-Gatien

   Pass by

   Review to fans of the flamboyant Gothic, St. Guardian’s Cathedral is for you! Its construction began in the 13th century and will last about 400 years!

6. 6

   Jardin du musee des Beaux Arts (Francois Sicard)

   Pass by

   Here you are in the beautiful garden of the Museum of Fine Arts of Tours, installed in the old episcopal palace of the city. The bishops were in fact located near the cathedral, in an old palace of the 4th century.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Pass by

   Upon entering the Museum of Fine Arts, you are immediately intrigued by the stuffed elephant in its window. This is Fritz, an early 19th-century star of the Barnum and Bailey North American Circus.

8. 8

   Gare de Tours

   Pass by

   Few stations can boast of any tourist interest other than having taken you to your destination. While the Tours station is downright beautiful!

9. 9

   Hotel de Ville de Tours

   Pass by

   Opposite you, on the little Place Jean Jaurès, stands the imposing Tours City Inn. Built in the late 19th century and inaugurated in 1904, it looks more like a palace than anything else.

10. 10

    Rue Nationale

    Pass by

    Here you are in the heart of the main artery of the city. The 700-metre-long national street connects Place Jean Jaurès with the Wilson Bridge across the Loire.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    Pass by

    You can see that we are entering another era with the Charlemagne Tower standing before you. It is, along with the Clock Tower and St. Martin’s Cloister, one of the only remains of the old St. Martin’s Basilica destroyed in 1797.

12. 12

    Basilique Saint Martin

    Pass by

    The Basilica of Saint Martin that you see now was built from 1887 to 1902 by the architect Victor Laloux, yes, the same as for the City Inn and the train station. He didn’t quit in his life!

13. 13

    Stop 13

    Pass by

    You are now in front of the clock tower. This is where you can really see the size of the old Basilica of Saint Martin of the eleventh century.

14. 14

    Stop 14

    Pass by

    This carved door in flamboyant Gothic style is a new witness to Tours' past. It is all that remains of a private Inn owned by the treasurer of the canons.

15. 15

    Statue Le Monstre

    Pass by

    Small anachronism in the historic district. You're here face to face with the Point of Sale Monster!

16. 16

    Place Plumereau

    Pass by

    Here you go. That's what you wanted to see in Tours. A remarkable set of half-timbered houses around a cozy square filled with cafes and restaurants.

17. 17

    Jardin Botanique de Tours

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    You are here in the presence of a great mix of pasts facing Roman and medieval remains. In the 500’s, when her husband Clovis died, Queen Clothilde moved to Tours.

18. 18

    Hotel Gouin

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    We are still in the Plumereau district of Tours, the most important historical area of the city. There you have the Goüin Inn, a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture.

19. 19

    Stop 19

    Pass by

    Here is the church of Saint-Julien in Tours. In the 6th century, Clovis is said to have decided to erect a church to celebrate his victory over the Visigoths.

20. 20

    Pont wilson

    Pass by

    We arrive on the bridge Wilson which offers us a very nice view on the banks of the Loire and an interesting perspective on the Rue Nationale behind you.

21. 21

    Stop 21

    Pass by

    The beautiful art nouveau building you see there, comfortably installed facing the Loire, is the municipal library of Tours. Its remarkable architecture and history have earned it a historic monument.

22. 22

    Monument Memorial Americain

    Pass by

    Passport please, you are entering US territory. Yes, you can see that the piece of land on which this beautiful fountain is located belongs to the United States!

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.