AN INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT
The urban area of Tours (nearly 300 000 inhabitants) has a leading part to play in the Loire Valley. It lies at the crossroads of the North-South and East-West communication lines of Europe and is only one hour from Paris by high-speed train. Our city, a real hub of motorway and railway connections, is accessible from all directions. It has an airport (where the TAT airline has its head office).

A GREAT SHOPPING CENTRE
The city is permanently alive with the activity generated by the many and varied local shops. Ongoing modernization is evident in the number of shopping malls operating or under construction (Galerie Nationale, Galerie du Metropole, Galerie du Palais, Grand Passage). The choice is considerable: from international-class luxury goods to the traditional products of local craftsmen.

CENTRE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Resolutely turned towards the future, Tours is increasing the number of its research centres every day, especially medical and pharmaceutical laboratories known throughout the world. The human resources represent 25 000 students in the university and specialized colleges. Tours is also home to large companies specializing in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment; research teams in space development, robotics; services such as insurance groups, all with widespread influence.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
At the Grand Theatre: operatic season, concerts, theatre Regional Theatrical Centre: Louis Jouvet Theatre.
Jean de Ockeghem Music Centre: formerly St Denis church ( 15th c.). Tanners Hall at the University.
Festivals: Florilege Vocal de Tours (choir music) (Whitsuntide). Fetes Musicales en Touraine (mid-November).  "Le Chore-graphique": modern dance in the gardens of the Musee des Beaux Arts (July). CONTEMPORARY ART CENTRE Rue Marcel Tribut – (Tel.02.47.66.50.00. Contemporary art, video room, documentation, cafeteria. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 2 - 6 pm, all year round).

THE CITY'S GARDENS :
Gardens of the Musee des Beaux Arts, south of the cathedral. François Sicard Square, opposite the Beaux Arts, Prefecture gardens (nearest the station), Prebendes garden,
Mirabeau park. To the north, Tours Sainte Radegonde garden on a former island.Further downstream, the Ile Simon park. To the west, the Botanical gardens: rare plants, animals, green-houses. To the south, the Balzac park on an island in the Cher and the Grammont park on top of the hill overlooking the Cher Valley. Further south-east, the Hates woods and the Larçay forest belong to the city of Tours.

SPORTING TOWN
The sports amenities of TOURS are some of the most complete in France. Palais des Sports – all-sports hall (2 swimming pools with one olympic pool ; ice rink ; numerous specialised premises). Open-air olympic swimming pool, nautical Club at the lake near the left bank of the river Cher, Stade d’Honneur (football stadium), rowing course, Canoeing in Saint Avertin (former tributary of the river Cher, outside the city map)