VISIT IN THE HEART OF A PRESERVED AREA

You will discover the Saint-Gatien cathedral, built from the XIIth to the XVIth c.; the Archbishops' palace (XVIIth – XVIIIth c) – walk in the French style garden, lovely views of the palace façade and cathedral; the Royal Château and Tour de Guise (XIIIth c.) crowned with machicolation and a pepper-pot roof; then, continue along the rue Colbert with its timber framed houses.

A visit during which you will discover this mainly gothic style building, built between the XIIth and XVIth c. You will admire the chancel with a fine collection of XIIIth c. Stained -glass windows (nearly 800 m²), the flamboyant façade being among the region's most prestigious, displaying , its opulent decoration ; the XIVth-XVth c. nave, the grave of Charles VIIIth's and Anne of Brittany's children, a beautiful work coming from the school of the sculptor Michel Colombe.

TOURS AT THE TIME OF BALZAC

Honoré de Balzac was born in Tours on 20 May 1799. In his writings, He evokes the Loire valley landscapes he was so fond of , , and used as settings in some of his novels, areas and streets from his native town. In this way, the name of The Vauquer boarding school, used in the novel "Old Goriot" reminds the school where Balzac's sisters studied as children. Likewise,The Saint-Gatien cathedral area and the Psalette cloister are the setting for characters who build up the plot centred around the Abbey Birotteau in the novel "Le Curé de Tours" (the Priest of Tours). Throughout this tour, you will discover many places named in the authors' works and evoking touching personal memories.

TOURS BY NIGHT

This visit will take you in the gentle, mysterious atmosphere of night. A new lighting system has been set up in Tours since 1996. We therefore offer you a walking sightseeing of the different illuminated monuments: the railway station, the town hall, the Rue Nationale, the Charlemagne Tower, the Saint-Martin Basilica, the Plumereau area, bridges over the Loire river, river islands, and the Saint-Gatien Cathedral. A magical tour!

VICTOR LALOUX

Victor Laloux, the famous architect born in Tours, drew the plans of the Orsay train station, now a XIXth century art museum in Paris. This visit will show you the 3 monuments he realised in Tours: the railway station, the Town Hall (inside visit of the Reception Hall, Wedding room, and Town Council meeting room); and the Saint-Martin Basilica, built from 1889 to 1924 in the Neo-Byzantine style.

DISCOVERY OF THE MEDIEVAL STREETS (for children from 6 to12)

Explore both medieval cathedral and Chateauneuf areas : following the main street of the Middle Ages. The rue Colbert considered as the Main street during the Middle Ages , saw a significant urban development from the first quarter of the XVth c. The quick division of the land in narrow plots explains the numerous narrow timber framed houses built along the street, and all being a shop or workshop. Fairs and markets were held at the Place Foire le Roi. People entered this place through a narrow street called "le Passage du Cœur Navré". This is the last medieval passage still existing in Tours. The Place Plumereau displays a fine group of timber framed houses from the XVth and XVIth c. These neighbourhoods were quite prosperous during the Middle Ages. Explanations provided about life during this period of times.