Tours is a town in the west of France, on the banks of the Loire
and Cher rivers, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, of which it is
the capital. The town is the capital of the Tours Loire Valley
metropolis and, with its inter-municipal authority, one of the 22
official French metropolises.
The municipality, with 135,787
inhabitants in 2017, is at the center of an urban unit of 353,836
inhabitants (in 2016), itself the hub of an urban area of 495,379
inhabitants2. It is the largest municipality, the largest urban unit
and the largest urban area in the Center-Val de Loire region, as
well as the 18th largest urban area in France3. Its
inter-municipality is, for its part, populated by 299,177
inhabitants in 2019, which also makes it the first in the Center-Val
de Loire region in terms of its population.
Ancient
Caesarodunum city of Turones, founded by Augustus, capital of the
III Lyonnaise with one of the largest amphitheatres of the Roman
Empire. National sanctuary with Saint Martin, Gregory of Tours and
Alcuin under the Merovingians and the Carolingians, with the
adoption by the Capetians of the local currency the pound
tournaments which will become the currency of the kingdom. Capital
of the County of Tours which will become Touraine, the garden of
France. First city of the silk industry, wanted by Louis XI, royal
capital under the Valois with its castles of the Loire and city of
art with the School of Tours. Capital of loyalty for Henri III and
Henri IV during the Wars of Religion and city of withdrawal in June
1940 which earned it to be partly destroyed.
Despite
everything, the White and Blue city retains a historic center
registered with UNESCO and a city of art and history with its
Vieux-Tours Remarkable heritage site. The garden city concentrates a
green heritage and an urban landscape strongly influenced by its
natural space. The historic city that we nickname Le Petit Paris and
its region for its history and its culture, have always been a land
of birth or reception of many personalities, international sporting
events, university city with more than 30,000 students in 2019.
Culinary city with its specialties rillettes, rillons, Touraine
vineyards, AOC Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine cheeses and nougats.
Urban area of the West, the city is part of the metropolitan area
Val de Loire-Maine. It hosts the region's leading employer, the CHRU
and many large-scale management establishments. Surrounded by its
ring road, in the center of a five-pointed motorway star with the
A10, A28 and A85. The agglomeration of Tours is linked to the
national network by two stations, in Tours and
Saint-Pierre-des-Corps for TER and TGV connections. All regions of
France are accessible by train and Tours-Val de Loire airport is an
important regional airport and with some international destinations.
The regional newspaper La Nouvelle République, which has its
headquarters in Tours and is distributed throughout the Center-Val
de Loire and New-Aquitaine regions, strengthens its central
position.
The Colbert / Cathedral district
Another old nucleus of the
city, from the east of rue Nationale to avenue Mirabeau. This sector
corresponds to the ancient Gallo-Roman city.
Saint-Gatien
Cathedral of Tours
5 Cathedral Square
The Saint-Gatien
Cathedral of Tours is a Roman Catholic cathedral, located in Tours
in the Vieux-Tours, in Indre-et-Loire. Dedicated to Saint Gatien,
the first bishop of Tours, it is the seat of the archdiocese of
Tours and the metropolitan cathedral of the ecclesiastical province
of Tours. It was classified as a historical monument by the list of
1862.
Museum of Fine Arts
18 place François Sicard,
Logo indicating a telephone number +33 2 47 05 68 82, email:
culturembaaccueil@ville-tours.fr
The Museum of Fine Arts
in Tours is housed in the old episcopal palace of the city, near the
cathedral in the Vieux-Tours.
A formal garden stretches out
in front of the 18th century episcopal palace, which has retained
some of its original decor. A Lebanese cedar, classified as a
Remarkable Tree of France, adorns the courtyard of the museum and we
can see in this same courtyard, in a building opposite the palace,
Fritz, a stuffed Asian elephant, shot because it became
uncontrollable during a parade of the Barnum & Bailey circus in the
streets of Tours on June 10, 1902. Access to the elephant and the
large cedar are free since inside the park.
The Museum of
Fine Arts in Tours is housed in a historic building of exceptional
quality. The site is of capital importance to the history of ancient
Caesarodunum; the museum shelters in its undergrounds the most
beautiful lapidary inscription to the glory of the Turons. The first
bishops had chosen to settle near the cathedral, in a palace built
on the 4th century rampart, of which beautiful traces still exist
today, notably the corner tower.
Another vestige of this
period, a chapel leaning against the palace of the archbishops
dating from the 4th century and rebuilt in 591 by order of Grégoire
de Tours. This building was transformed in the 12th century and
partly destroyed in the 17th century during the renovations of the
new archiepiscopal palace of Bishop Bertrand d´Eschaux. In the 12th
century, the so-called Synod Wing was built. Constantly transformed
over the centuries, this huge hall, where the States General of the
Kingdom of France met twice (1468 and 1484) is one of the most
evocative historical places in the history of Touraine.
Bishop Rosset de Fleury completed the ensemble with the construction
of the pediment and attic palace and the development of the
terraces, the curve of which follows the layout of the Roman
amphitheater. Finally, in 1775, Bishop de Conzié had the imposing
portal and the hemicycle of the main courtyard erected in place of
the old stables. He transformed the old Synod Hall into an
archiepiscopal chapel and had an antique colonnade built for this
purpose.
After 1789, the Palace of the Archbishops became a
theater, central school, library then by departmental decree of
October 6, 1792 and with the passionate energy of the founder of the
city's drawing school, Charles-Antoine Rougeot and his son-in-law,
Jean -Jacques Raverot, became repository for works seized during the
Revolution. A first museum opened to the public on March 4, 1795.
The former archdiocese has been classified as a historical
monument since June 27, 1983
The Old Tours
The Vieux Tours
designates the medieval quarter of the city, located between the rue
Nationale and Les Halles. Restored in the 1970s, it is today known
for its nightlife: a large number of trendy bars and nightclubs have
settled down.
Place Plumereau - A must in Tours for a drink
during the day in front of the half-timbered gabled houses of the
sixteenth and sixteenth centuries and at night for the university
atmosphere.
Hôtel Gouïn 25 rue du commerce - Monument classified
or listed as historical monuments in France 15th century hotel.
Maison de Tristant l'Hermite 16 rue Briçonnet - Monument classified
or listed as historical monuments in France House of the 15th
century.
Saint-Martin Basilica - Monument classified or listed as
historical monuments in France The Saint Martin basilica was rebuilt
by Victor Laloux from 1886 to 1924. It houses the tomb of
Saint-Martin in the crypt. There remain of the Romanesque basilica
the Charlemagne towers and the Clock visible from the rue des
Halles.
The monster place du grand marché - Work of Xavier
Veilhant installed in 2004.
Ancient and Roman Foundations (Prehistory to 5th Century AD)
The
Turones, a Gallic people, first settled the area on the right bank of
the Loire River as an important crossing point. In the 1st century AD,
the Romans relocated the settlement to the left bank and named it
Caesarodunum (“hill of Caesar”). Under Roman rule, the city grew
rapidly: an amphitheatre was constructed in the 1st century and expanded
in the 2nd; by around 250 AD it was fortified into a castrum. A
cathedral appeared in the 4th century under Bishop Litorius. By the late
4th century, Tours had become the metropolis of the Roman province of
Lugdunum, overseeing a vast territory including Maine, Brittany, and
much of the Loire Valley. The original Gallic name (Turones) evolved
into Civitas Turonorum and eventually “Tours” by the 5th century.
Christian Ascendancy and the Era of Saint Martin (3rd–6th Centuries)
Christianity arrived early: the city was evangelized around the mid-3rd
century by Saint Gatien, who established the bishopric. The community
remained modest until the second half of the 4th century, when Saint
Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), the “Apostle of the Gauls,” became bishop.
His legendary act of cutting his cloak to share with a beggar in Amiens
made him one of medieval Europe’s most venerated saints; his tomb became
a major pilgrimage destination. A magnificent basilica was raised over
his grave in the late 5th century.
In the late 6th century, Saint
Gregory of Tours (bishop 573–594) held the see. He authored the seminal
Ten Books of History (a primary source for Merovingian Gaul) and oversaw
reconstruction of the fire-damaged cathedral (561). Under the Franks,
King Clovis I (r. 481/482–511) accepted the title of canon of Saint
Martin for himself and his successors, binding the monarchy to the abbey
and elevating Tours’ religious-political prestige.
Carolingian
Renaissance, Viking Threats, and the Battle of Tours (8th–10th
Centuries)
Tours played a central role in the Carolingian
Renaissance. Charlemagne (r. 768–814) placed Marmoutier Abbey under the
English scholar Alcuin of York, turning it into a major intellectual and
scriptorium center. The most famous event associated with Tours is the
Battle of Tours (also called the Battle of Poitiers), fought in October
732 near Moussais-la-Bataille (between Tours and Poitiers). Frankish
forces under Charles Martel decisively defeated the Umayyad army led by
Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, halting Muslim expansion into Western Europe
and boosting Martel’s prestige.
Viking raids later devastated the
region: Tours and Marmoutier Abbey were sacked in 852–853 and again in
903. Defensive walls were built around the Saint-Martin district
(Châteauneuf/Martinopolis) around 918 for protection.
Medieval
Duality, Counts, and Economic Rise (11th–15th Centuries)
Medieval
Tours consisted of two distinct, often rival centers separated by
vineyards and fields:
The eastern “City” (successor to the Roman
castrum) with the cathedral, archbishop’s palace, and Château de Tours
(seat of the Counts of Tours/Anjou).
The western “New City”
(Châteauneuf) around the wealthy Abbey of Saint Martin, which gained
independence and economic dominance.
The two were linked by
bridges and fully unified under a common wall in the 14th century. The
county of Touraine (capital Tours) was hotly contested between the
houses of Blois and Anjou; Anjou prevailed in the 11th century. The city
hosted multiple Church councils (461, 567, 813, 1055, 1163, 1236) and
several Estates General (1308, 1468, 1484, 1506). Construction of the
present Saint-Gatien Cathedral began in 1170 and was completed in 1547.
In the 15th century, Tours briefly became France’s de facto capital
under Louis XI (r. 1461–1483), who resided at the nearby Château de
Montils (now Plessis-lès-Tours) and introduced the silk industry. He
also established the royal postal road system and codified Touraine
customary law (1460). The city prospered as a commercial and
administrative center; the livre tournois became the kingdom’s official
currency (1203).
Renaissance, Religious Wars, and Royal Decline
(16th–18th Centuries)
The Loire Valley’s Renaissance châteaux era
brought prosperity and fine private mansions to Tours. Charles IX
visited with his court during his 1564–1566 royal tour. During the Wars
of Religion, Tours avoided the worst violence of the 1572 Saint
Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (Protestants were imprisoned rather than
killed). After the court permanently returned to Paris and Versailles in
the 17th century, Tours declined. The 1685 revocation of the Edict of
Nantes drove out Protestant (Huguenot) silk workers, further harming the
industry.
19th Century Revival and Temporary Capital (1800s)
The railway’s arrival (Tours station 1846, main line to Paris)
transformed the city into a vital transport node. Population grew
rapidly (from ~20,000 in 1800 to ~60,000 by 1886). During the
Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), Tours served as the de facto capital of
France, hosting Léon Gambetta and the Government of National Defence
after the Siege of Paris.
20th Century: World Wars, Congress, and
Rebirth
In World War I, Tours became a major American supply base
(1917 onward), hosting ~25,000 U.S. soldiers who built factories,
hospitals, and repair shops. The Wilson Bridge (1918) commemorates this
alliance. In 1920, the historic Congress of Tours split the French
socialist movement and founded the French Communist Party (with Ho Chi
Minh among early attendees).
World War II brought trauma: the French
government briefly relocated here (10–13 June 1940) before fleeing to
Bordeaux. German incendiary bombing on 20–22 June 1940 ignited a
firestorm that destroyed much of the historic center (including
16th–17th-century buildings); the Wilson Bridge was blown up to slow the
German advance. Allied raids in 1944 further damaged the railway
district. Post-war reconstruction under architects Camille Lefèvre and
Pierre Patout created a modern yet historically sensitive city center.
Mayor Jean Royer (1959–1995) established one of France’s first protected
conservation areas, preserving the medieval old town—most famously Place
Plumereau and its surrounding half-timbered 15th-century houses.
Legacy and Modern Significance
Today, Tours remains a “City of Art
and History” with a population of around 135,000 (metropolitan area
larger). Its silk industry endures in specialized form; the city is a
gateway to the Loire châteaux, a university center, and a conference
hub. Key surviving landmarks include the Basilica of Saint Martin
(rebuilt 19th–20th centuries on the original site), Saint-Gatien
Cathedral, the Château de Tours ruins, and the beautifully restored
Vieux Tours district.
Location and Regional Context
Tours lies on the lower (western)
reaches of the Loire River, roughly midway between Orléans (about 110
km/68 mi upstream to the east) and the Atlantic coast near Nantes (about
200 km/124 mi downstream to the west). Its precise coordinates are
47°23′37″N 0°41′21″E (or approximately 47.3936°N, 0.6892°E).
The city
occupies a strategic position in the historical province of Touraine,
now part of the broader Loire Valley (Vallée de la Loire), a 280 km
UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. It is nestled between the
Loire River to the north and the Cher River to the south, forming a
natural corridor in the western Paris Basin. This places it about 230 km
(143 mi) southwest of Paris, with excellent connectivity via TGV rail.
Topography and Terrain
The commune of Tours covers 34.7 km² (13.4
sq mi), with elevations ranging from 44 m to 119 m (144–390 ft) above
sea level. The terrain is gently undulating and low-lying,
characteristic of the alluvial plains and terraces of the middle Loire
Valley.
The city occupies flat riverine lowlands with subtle rises
toward the south (toward the Cher) and minor plateaus to the north and
east. This flat-to-rolling landscape facilitated early settlement and
later urban expansion. The broader Touraine region features a mix of
broad valleys, gentle hills, and limestone plateaus, shaped by millions
of years of sedimentary deposition in the Paris Basin.
Hydrology:
The Loire and Cher Rivers
Tours is fundamentally a river city,
strategically located between the Loire (north) and Cher (south). The
Loire, France’s longest river (1,006 km/625 mi), flows westward here in
a wide, braided channel with sandbars, islands, and floodplains—features
visible in aerial views. The Cher, a major tributary, bounds the
southern edge; in the 1970s, engineers diverted parts of its course to
enable modern urban development (creating districts like Rives du Cher).
Bridges such as the iconic Pont Wilson span the Loire, linking the
historic core to northern suburbs. The rivers have historically provided
transport, defense, trade (especially wine and silk), and fertile silt
for agriculture, but they also bring periodic flooding risks, mitigated
by embankments and urban planning.
The city’s layout hugs these
waterways: the old civic and religious core developed near the Loire,
while modern growth pushed southward toward the Cher.
Climate
Tours enjoys a mild oceanic climate (Cfb), unusually temperate for its
northern latitude due to Atlantic influence moderated by its inland
position. Summers are pleasantly warm (frequent highs above 25°C), and
winters are mild with rare severe frost. The Loire Valley’s microclimate
adds luminosity and protects against extremes.
Geology and Soils
The area sits in the Paris Basin, underlain by thick sedimentary layers
from ancient seas. Around Tours and in nearby Touraine appellations
(Vouvray, Montlouis, etc.), the bedrock is primarily soft yellow
limestone (tuffeau), often iron-stained, which was quarried for the
famous Loire châteaux and wine cellars.
Alluvial deposits from the
Loire and Cher create fertile floodplains with sands, clays, and
silts—ideal for vineyards, orchards (cherries, apples), asparagus, and
artichokes. East of Tours (Vouvray), soils mix limestone with flint;
west and south, more sandy alluvium dominates. These terroirs produce
the crisp, mineral-driven wines of the region.
Surrounding
Landscape: The Loire Valley and Touraine
Tours anchors the central
Loire Valley, a gently rolling countryside of vineyards, orchards,
market gardens, and historic châteaux (over 300 within easy reach). The
valley’s fertile banks and moderated climate earned it the “Garden of
France” nickname. To the north and south lie limestone plateaus and
wooded hills; eastward toward Blois and westward toward Saumur, the
landscape opens into broad, luminous river plains dotted with
Renaissance estates, troglodyte caves, and wine villages.
Urban
Geography and Human Adaptation
The physical setting profoundly shapes
Tours. The historic Vieux Tours (old town) clusters near the Loire with
half-timbered medieval streets, while the city expanded southward across
former Cher floodplains. Green spaces abound: the Jardin Botanique,
Prébendes d’Oé, and riverside parks reflect its garden-city heritage.
The rivers provide scenic corridors, recreation, and a natural boundary
that historically defined neighborhoods.