HALF-DAY VISITS, DIFFERENT WAYS TO DISCOVER TOURS (Approximately 3 hours)

The Renaissance time was one of the most creative architectural periods of time in Tours. Many monuments and mansions show how the spirit of the Italian influences, renewed all artistic fields in France in the early XVIth c. Today, the Renaissance time and style is a living concern in Tours.

Meeting at the Tourist Office with our guide for a walking tour on the theme of the Renaissance time in Tours. You will discover: - The Saint-Gatien cathedral: the grave of Charles VIIIth's and Anne of Brittany's children; a beautiful work coming from the school of the sculptor Michel Colombe; the Psalette cloister: with three lovely XVth and XVIth c. galleries, as well as a superb spiral staircase ( inside visit); The Beaune-Semblançay mansion: a formerRenaissance style mansion, as well as the finely sculpted "Beaune Fountain"; The façade of the Gouïn Mansion, , and the Place Plumereau, whose timber framed dwellings dated from the late Middle Ages herald the Renaissance period of time.          

You will discover an operational and real "conservatory" with approximately 80 handlooms upon which was added the Jacquard mechanism, most of them are 130 cm wide. All the equipment is classified and belong to the "Historical Monuments". You will see from the reeling to the weaving, the making of prestigious upholstery fabrics, ordered by decorators, museum curators, or owners of historical monuments throughout the world: Fontainebleau, Compiegne, and Vaux-le-Vicomte châteaux; Luxembourg Grand-Ducal Palace, the Sans Soucis Palace in Potsdam, Paul Guetty Museum in Los Angeles, etc. Explanatory video.
        

The visit will go on with a sightseeing of the city in your coach. You will see the Wilson bridge, also called "the stone bridge", the banks of the Loire river (lovely views on the river classified at the UNESCO world heritage). Then you will have a walk in the area called "Old Tours" for an introduction of the silk activity from the XVth century. You will discover the timber framed houses from the XVth and XVIth centuries and mansions which used to belong to silk merchants.

Tours is one of the compulsory stops on the "Compagnons" Tour of France" for young craftsmen willing to improve their knowledge . The "Compagnons" are still very active in Tours, and display their finest masterpieces in a museum devoted to their work. Meet with our guide at the Tourist office for a walking tour of the city on the theme of the "Compagnonnage". You will discover the Saint-Gatien Cathedral; the Archbishop's Palace, the "rue Colbert", the area known as "Old Tours" (formerly called Chateauneuf), which has become one of the city's prime locations with its narrow, generally pedestrian streets, numerous XVth and XVIth c. timber framed houses, the Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier garden, staircases towers in the "rue de la Rôtisserie", the famous "place Plumereau", the "Charlemagne Tower" and the Saint-Martin Basilica.

During the tour, you will see: "Compagnons" headquarters, and stop in front of buildings where their emblems can be seen. You will also visit the "COMPAGNONNAGE" MUSEUM. Unique in the world. This museum tells the history, customs, and techniques of these training associations which also defended the workers rights. You will discover a great varieties of crafts still existing or having disappeared, (locksmiths, confectioners, carpenters, roofers, etc.), tools, all sorts of masterworks the "Compagnon" had to create to deserve their title and honour "fine work".
                   

Martin, bishop of Tours during the Fourth century, was honoured as a saint after his death. Tours became the most visited place of pilgrimage in the Christianity, even more important than Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Meet with our guide at the Tourist office, departure with your coach for a tour on the theme of Saint Martin . Stop at the Saint-Gatien Cathedral to admire the XIIIth c. stained glass windows telling the Saint's life: the sharing of the cloak and the summer of Saint Martin are the two most famous episodes of his life.

Then, you will continue towards the Châteauneuf area which has always been as far as the Middle Ages a prosperous trade area , gathered around a major pilgrimage site: the grave of Saint Martin. You will discover the ruins of the Saint-Martin Collegiate church: the Charlemagne Tower, , and the Clock Tower which was part of the western porch, as well as the new Basilica, built in the Neo-Byzantine style from 1889 by Victor Laloux, in which is kept the grave of Saint-Martin.Finally, you will visit the SAINT-MARTIN MUSEUM located in the Saint-Jean Chapel, formerly belonging to the Saint-Martin cloister. The life of the Saint and his influence through the naming of many churches are evoked here. A model shows how vast was the former collegiate church, which had 5 naves, 5 towers, a chancel with a double ambulatory, and radiating chapels.
         

Why not visiting the city by bicycle? An approximately 16-km itinerary combining architectural and historical aspects in Tours' preserved area with a pastoral riding along the Loire and Cher rivers. Meet with our guide at the Tourist Office for a guided tour of the city by bicycle. You will discover Tours' preserved area, from the Saint-Gatien Cathedral to the Saint-Martin Basilica, riding throughout the small and, narrow medieval streets , as well as along the green banks of the Loire and Cher rivers, . Several stops are provided for commentaries.
             

From Easter to the end of September, a small sight-seeing train runs along the streets of Tours' preserved area for an entertaining, and relaxing visit.. A walking tour with a guide will complete the discovery of the charms in this City of Art and History. Meet with our guide at the tourist office for a sightseeing of the city in the small tourist train. A two-parts tour: a sightseeing of the city with explanations in the train; starting from the Tourist Office along the boulevards, passing in front of the railway station and Town Hall – very nice XIXth century buildings; and continuing towards the area known as "old Tours" (former Chateauneuf village), then towards the Foire-le-Roi square; and along the banks of the Loire river to finish in the Gallo-Roman area with the Royal castle and the Saint-Gatien Cathedral. End of the tour.

A guide will then take over for a walking tour along the "Rue Colbert" to the famous "place Plumereau" which displays a beautiful group of timber framed houses. You will stroll along the picturesque medieval streets, where many shops still offer their rich crafts.  Admire the façade of the Pierre Dupuy Mansion (XVth c.), the "Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier" garden (Gallo-Roman ruins), staircases towers in the "rue de la Rôtisserie"...You will discover the Charlemagne Tower, ruins of the Saint-Martin collegiate church, and the new Saint-Martin Basilica, a beautiful XIXth c. building in the crypt of which the grave of Saint Martin is still visible.
          

Tours and Lourdes are the only towns in France that have a "Gemmail" museum. This new XXth c. technique using glass, light, and colours, filled with enthusiasm the world's greatest painters and allowed the glass artists to illuminate their creations. Meet with our guide at the Tourist Office for a walking tour of the city. You will discover the Saint Gatien Cathedral, built from the XIIth to XVIth centuries: the Archbishop's Palace (XVIIth c. – XVIIIth c.) the Royal castle with the "Tour de Guise"; then, you will follow the "rue Colbert" with its timber framed houses to the area known as "Old Tours" (former village of Chateauneuf), which is one of the city'curiosities with its narrow, often pedestrian streets, numerous XVth and XVIth c. timber framed houses. You will Stroll along the picturesque medieval streets, where numerous shops still offer their rich crafts.

Admire the famous Place Plumereau which displays fine timber framed houses, the Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier garden, the Pierre Dupuy mansion façade (XVth c.), and then arrive at the GEMMAIL museum, located in the Raimbault mansion, a fine XIXth c. building. You will discover a new form of artistic expression through several works of art: amalgam of superposed, intimately connected layers of glass using transparency, light, and colour with unlimited relief, materials and subtleties. A video will show you the works of those glass artists within their workshop, which is unique in the world.
        

Then, you will arrive in the area known as the "Old Tours" (former Châteauneuf village). You will Stroll along the picturesque medieval streets, where numerous shops still offer their rich crafts. You will also admire the façade of the Pierre Dupuy mansion , the Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier garden, staircases towers in the "rue de la Rôtisserie", the famous place Plumereau, and the Charlemagne Tower. Your tour will end at the Saint-Martin Basilica.