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The 11 best churches in Tours

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church in tours france

1 Cathédrale Saint-Gatien

church in tours france

2 Abbaye de Saint-Julien

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3 Église Notre-Dame-La-Riche à Tours

4 st. peter's church city, 5 église saint-pierre de saint-avertin.

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church in tours france

6 Église Saint-Symphorien

7 eglise saint-symphorien de chambray-lès-tours, 8 eglise paroissiale saint-maurice à artannes-sur-indre, 9 église du christ roi, 10 eglise du sacré coeur, 11 soeurs charite presentati, popular road trips from tours, what's the weather like in tours.

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  • Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire
  • Saint Pierre des Corps
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  • Rochecorbon
  • Chambray-Les-Tours
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  • Saint-Antoine-du-Rocher
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The Complete Pilgrim - Religious Travel Sites

Howard Kramer's, The Complete Pilgrim, Religious Travel Site

BASILICA OF ST. MARTIN OF TOURS

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Tours, France

The current Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is, depending on how you count, at least the sixth church built over the tomb of this popular French saint.  Martin, along with his contemporary Hilary of Poitiers, was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in Western Europe, as well as halting the spread of Arianism.  The current incarnation of this church honoring St. Martin was constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making it one of the youngest major Catholic pilgrimage shrines in Europe.  The Basilica’s predecessors were traditionally part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, though the current church is not included as part of the UNESCO site.

Martin of Tours was a contemporary and acquaintance of the other great French saint of the period, Hilary of Tours.  While Hilary was perhaps more important from a historical perspective, Martin was undoubtedly the more colorful of the two.  Born in Hungary into a family of Roman aristocrats, his father was a cavalry officer, and Martin was brought up to follow in his footsteps.  It is likely that he saw service in battle against the various Germanic tribes that were then harassing Roman territories in Western Europe.

According to tradition, Martin was leading a force near modern-day Amiens in France, when he shared some clothing with a beggar.  He subsequently had a vision of Christ, who recognized Martin’s generosity even though he was at the time still a pagan.  He was baptized shortly thereafter, became a pacifist, left the army and became a faithful Christian.  He served as a disciple of Hilary in Poitiers, eventually became bishop of Tours, founded a monastery there, and became one of the most important champions against heresy in the history of France.

Hilary was the dominant Christian figure in Gaul in the second half of the 4th century, a crucial time when Germanic barbarians were threatening the western frontiers of the empire.  Because of his military service and his ability to rally people under the Christian banner, Martin is often recognized as a protector of France.  After his death, his gravesite in Tours became a pilgrimage destination.  An early chapel was constructed there in the early 5th century.

Because of its popularity, the first chapel was replaced with a larger basilica around 470.  It was replaced by successfully larger buildings in the 11th and 13th centuries.  In 1562 it was sacked and nearly destroyed by Hugenots, restored in the 17th century, and nearly destroyed again in 1793 by Aetheists during the French Revolution.  In 1860, the relic of Martin was rediscovered, and a new basilica (the current one) completed in 1924.

The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is a relatively young but architecturally stunning church of neo-Byzantine construction.  Unlike the majority of major Catholic shrines in Europe, which are generally older with expansions and renovations, the basilica is almost entirely less than a century old.  Only two older church towers, which are not architecturally integral to the new church, are still standing.  The exterior design is strangely reminiscent of many European synagogues of the period.

The basilica interior is impressive, with white-stone walls, magnificent floor mosaics and stained glass windows featuring scenes from the life of Martin of Tours.  The crypt where the saint’s remains are interred is almost entirely new, with no visible traces of the Roman-era sarcaphogas in which he was originally buried.

The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is located close to the old city center of Tours, approximately 120 miles southwest of Paris.  It’s geographic proximity to and historic connection with Poitiers makes it a perfect combination visit with the Tomb of Hilary of Poitiers.  The basilica is open daily from 7:30am-7:00pm.  There is no cost of admission.  Web: www.basiliquesaintmartin.com (official website)

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Tours is one of France’s classic cathedral cities.  The Cathedral of Tours , with one of the most breathtaking façades in the world, dominates the city skyline.  Several French monarchs are entombed within the cathedral.

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About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

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Basilica of St. Martin, Tours

The Basilique de St-Martin in Tours is a neo-Byzantine basilica on the site of previous churches built in honor of St. Martin, bishop of Tours in the 4th century. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister surviving from the earlier basilica.

History of Basilica of St. Martin

St. Martin was born in modern-day Hungary in about 316. His father was an officer in the Roman army, and Martin accompanied him to Pavia in Italy at an early age. When he reached adolescence, he was enrolled in the army himself and soon transferred to Amiens in France. By this time, Martin had converted to Christianity.

It was in Amiens that the famous legend of the cloak occurred, which is depicted in stained glass windows and carved on capitals throughout the region. At the gates of the city, one very cold day, Martin met a shivering and half-naked beggar. Moved with compassion, he divided his coat into two parts and gave one to the poor man.

Martin was baptised soon after, and with in a couple years his conscience would no longer allow him to fight in the army. After securing his release, Martin headed straight for Poitiers to become a disciple of the famous Bishop Hilary. Martin thereafter spent his time battling Arianism, preaching the Gospel in western Gaul, and living as a hermit at a deserted place called Ligugé.

When the bishop of Tours died in 371 , the city's clergy begged Martin to take the position. But Martin strongly refused, desiring the solitary life above all else. So the town took desperate measures - Rusticius, a rich citizen of Tours, went and begged Martin to come to his dying wife to prepare her for death. Martin followed him immediately, but had hardly entered the city when, in spite of the opposition of a few ecclesiastical dignitaries, popular acclamation forced him to become Bishop of Tours .

As expected, Martin was an excellent bishop, but he did not change his preferred way of life - he lived outside the city across the Loire at Marmoutier, where a monastery soon developed around him. Martin died in 397 at the age of about 81 in Candes, and his body was brought back to Tours.

Martin's remains were enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, above which his successors, St. Britius and St. Perpetuus, built first a simple chapel, and later a basilica (466-72) . St. Euphronius, Bishop of Autun and a friend of St. Perpetuus, sent a sculptured tablet of marble to cover the tomb. This Early Christian basilica burned down along with many other churches in 988.

A larger Basilica of St. Martin was constructed in 1014, which burned down in 1230. This was rebuilt as an even larger 13th-century Romanesque basilica , which became the center of great national pilgrimages and a stop on the way to Santiago . Martin's cult was very popular throughout the Middle Ages and a multitude of churches and chapels have been dedicated to him.

In 1562 , Huguenots (French Calvinists) sacked the Basilica of St. Martin from top to bottom, especially destroying the tomb and relics of Martin. The church was restored by its canons, but then was completely demolished in 1793 during the Revolution. All the remained of the basilica was the two towers which are still standing. To ensure the basilica could not be rebuilt, the atheistic municipality caused two streets to be opened up on its site.

In December 1860 , excavations located the site of St. Martin's tomb, of which some fragments were discovered. A new basilica to house these relics was constructed by Mgr Meignan, Archbishop of Tours, from 1886-1924 . Martin's tomb is still a place of pilgrimage for the faithful.

What to See at Basilica of St. Martin

The new Basilique de St-Martin is neo-Byzantine in style and is much smaller than its great medieval predecessor. Next to it stand the only remains of the Romanesque basilica: the Tour de Charlemagne and the western clock tower.

The relics and shrine to St. Martin are in the basilica's crypt, the walls of which are carved with hundreds of votive prayers dedicated to the saint.

Festivals and Events

On November 11 each year the Feast of St. Martin is celebrated in this church in the presence of a large number of the faithful of Tours and other cities of the diocese.

Quick Facts on Basilica of St. Martin

  • St. Martin of Tours - Catholic Encyclopedia
  • Archdiocese of Tours - Catholic Encyclopedia
  • The Rough Guide to France 9 (April 2005), 564.

More Information

  • Photos of Basilica of St. Martin - here on Sacred Destinations

Map of Basilica of St. Martin, Tours

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Basilica of st. martin.

Tours, France

The Basilique de St-Martin in Tours is a neo-Byzantine basilica on the site of previous churches built in honor of St. Martin, bishop of Tours in the 4th century. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister surviving from the earlier basilica.

St. Martin died in 397 at the age of about 81 in Candes, and his body was brought to Tours. Martin's remains were enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, above which his successors, St. Britius and St. Perpetuus, built first a simple chapel, and later a basilica (466-72). St. Euphronius, Bishop of Autun and a friend of St. Perpetuus, sent a sculptured tablet of marble to cover the tomb. This Early Christian basilica burned down along with many other churches in 988.

A larger Basilica of St. Martin was constructed in 1014, which burned down in 1230. This was rebuilt as an even larger 13th-century Romanesque basilica, which became the center of great national pilgrimages and a stop on the way toSantiago. Martin's cult was very popular throughout the Middle Ages and a multitude of churches and chapels have been dedicated to him.

In 1562, Huguenots (French Calvinists) sacked the Basilica of St. Martin from top to bottom, especially destroying the tomb and relics of Martin. The church was restored by its canons, but then was completely demolished in 1793 during the Revolution. All the remained of the basilica was the two towers which are still standing. To ensure the basilica could not be rebuilt, the atheistic municipality caused two streets to be opened up on its site.

In December 1860, excavations located the site of St. Martin's tomb, of which some fragments were discovered. A new basilica to house these relics was constructed by Mgr Meignan, Archbishop of Tours, from 1886-1924. Martin's tomb is still a place of pilgrimage for the faithful.

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Basilique Saint Martin - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

  • Sun - Sun 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • Mon - Mon 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
  • Tue - Sat 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
  • (0.03 mi) House Tours center garden/parking/terrace 5 p.
  • (0.11 mi) Ferdinand Hotel Tours
  • (0.08 mi) Maison Alphaize
  • (0.07 mi) Cloister SAINT MARTIN of Tours
  • (0.11 mi) Hôtel Foch
  • (0.12 mi) La Deuvaliere
  • (0.08 mi) L’Akan
  • (0.10 mi) Le comptoir de Mamie Bigoude
  • (0.07 mi) Chez Tonton
  • (0.09 mi) Bibi Bistrot

The Catholic Travel Guide

The Catholic Travel Guide

Tours, France: Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours

About saint martin of tours:.

He was the born in 316 AD and was a convert to the Faith. He was first French saint to be canonized who was not a martyr.

Painting of St Martin of Tours giving half his cloak to a beggar

He founded the first monastery in France near Poitiers, about 70 miles south of Tours, and was later made Bishop of Tours.

After his death in 397 AD, his body was brought to Tours on a cold November day and the story is told that the sun shone and flowers bloomed, which later came to be called the “Summer of Saint Martin” . Over 2,000 Religious gathered for his funeral. Pilgrimages were held to his burial site at the Basilica in Tours, and it also became a popular resting spot for those making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela from the Southwest part of France.

We celebrate the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours on November 11 .

About the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours:

His cloak was preserved in a building called a capella, from which our word chapel comes. The original church where he was buried was destroyed during the French revolution but has now been replaced with an even larger one.

In one of of the windows (bay 20) in the Chartres Cathedral , you will find a beautiful window with scenes depicting the life of Saint Martin. He is one of four patron saints of France and has many churches both here and throughout the world named in his honor.

Traveling to Tours:

Tours is about 150 miles Southwest of Paris.  You can book day trips from Paris that include a visit to the Basilica, a wine tasting and more.

Tours is also easily accessible by train from Paris or other major French cities. If you are traveling from Paris, the high-speed TGV trains (from Montparnasse Station) will get you there in a little over one hour, or the regional trains (from Austerlitz station) will take about two hours, so you can actually make this a day trip if you wish.

Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here.

The train station is about one-half mile from the Basilica.

Address: 7 Rue Baleschoux, 37000 Tours

GPS coordinates: 47° 23′ 34.1844” N, 0° 40′ 58.8504” E

Tel:     +33 02 47 05 63 87 Fax: +33 02 47 05 23 51

email: use the contact form on their website

Click here for the official website of the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours (in French).

Click here to find hotels & restaurants in Tours, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

If you are traveling in the U.S. state of Louisiana, we suggest you visit the Church of St. Martin de Tours in Saint Martinsville, Louisiana.

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Tours travel guide

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Visit Tours (Centre-Loire Valley, France)

The town of Tours is in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Centre region (the Loire Valley), and it is the largest town in the region. A busy, thriving town Tours is also only an hour to the south-west of Paris .

Exploring Tours

France This Way review: in Tours you will discover an extensive medieval historic centre, an imposing cathedral and cloisters, modern shopping streets and several other important monuments: together these make the town a very interesting and enjoyable destination to visit.

If possible, start your visit with a visit to Tours Tourist office on Rue Bernard Palissy to the south-east of the centre: this is adjacent to the car park on Rue Général Leclerc so we suggest you park there if arriving by car. The tourist office have lots of useful information about hidden sites and places you might not otherwise discover, such as a route for wine tasting...

One of the main attractions in Tours is the historic centre of the old town, in and around Place Plumereau. Around the edges of the square there are beautiful 12th to 15th century half timbered houses and some houses that also include fascinating features such as the carved figures on the facade of the house on the corner with Rue du Commerce.

The square is also filled with cafes and open air seating, so it’s a great place to sit and have a drink.

Town Hall in Tours

After exploring the streets in the historic centre, if you walk a short distance south along Rue du Change you reach another group of interesting buildings including the Tour Charlemagne, built over the tomb of Luitgarde, the wife of Charlemagne, and the Basilica Saint-Martin.

Inside the Basilica Saint-Martin , built in Tours in the 19th century in the neo-byzantine style, you can admire the painting of the dome and in the crypt of the church is the tomb of Saint-Martin, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in France.

There are a number of grand houses dating from the Renaissance period along Rue du Commerce, to the east of the old town. Our favourite is the Hotel Gouin with a lovely Renaissance façade: the archeaology museum is now housed in the building.

At the end of Rue du Commerce you can see another impressive religious monument, the Church of Saint-Julien, that combines both roman and gothic styles of architecture.

Cathedral Saint-Gatien and La Psalette cloisters

The Cathedral Saint-Gatien, the most important religious monument in Tours, is at the east end of Rue Commerce and Rue Colbert, and contains the tombs of the children of Charles VIII. Most notable, although part of the cathedral dates from the 12th century, much of the western end was built in the 15th century in so-called 'flamboyant gothic' style.

Adjacent to the cathedral are the cloisters of la Psalette - an impressive structure in a mix of architectural styles with elaborate stonework and a beautiful renaissance staircase. In part of the cloisters you can see the room where religious chanting was practiced. The cloisters are listed as one of 85 National Monuments in France.

See our separate guide for information about Tours cathedral and the la Psalette cloisters .

Other monuments in Tours

Next to the cathedral is the Museum of Fine Arts housed in the Archbishops Palace. You should stroll around the pretty gardens even if you are not going into the museum. There is also a cedar tree in the garden of the Archbishops palace, famous for being planted by Napoleon.

Next to the river on the other side of the cathedral you can see the Chateau of Tours, although only two towers now remain. The Tour de Guise houses a wax-work museum and a Tropical Aquarium.

If you walk south along Rue Nationale from the Church of Saint-Julien you can pause to do some shopping then continue to Place Jean Jaures to see two very impressive classical style buildings dating from Tours period of prosperity in the 18th century: the Palais de Justice and the Hotel de Ville.

As you would expect of a major town such as Tours you will also find a wide range of shops, restaurants and all other commerces. There are also markets held in different parts of the town almost every day of the week.

Parcs and gardens in Tours

For a change from the bustle of the streets there are several public parks and gardens in Tours. We enjoyed a visit to the Botanic gardens, an extensive area of trees, gardens and water features opposite the Bretonneau Hospital to the west of the centre and also a stroll around the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé to the south of Tours town centre (rue Roger Salengro).

There are many others that we did not unfortunately have time to visit, which you will find on the map given out by the tourist office in Tours.

Gardens of the Museum of Fine Arts in Tours

Attractions nearby

Of course no visit to the Loire Valley would be complete without visiting a castle or two, and several of the most important castles, towns and villages are within easy reach of Tours.

Among our favourites, the gardens at Château de Villandry are a short distance along the river to the west of Tours, and in the pretty town of Amboise you can visit the Chateau d'Amboise and Chateau de Clos Lucé , once home to Leonardo da Vinci. See also Loire Valley castles for more information.

You can find more travel ideas in the Indre-et-Loire guide and the Loire Valley guide .

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Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

The basilica Saint-Martin is an imposing neo-byzantine church in the town of Tours

Tours Cathedral and La Psalette Cloisters

Tours Cathedral and La Psalette Cloisters

The la Psalette cloister and the cathedral of Tours together make a very impressive religious monument with various architectural styles

Chateau de Villandry

Chateau de Villandry

The rooms at Chateau de Villandry can be explored, but it is the world famous French style gardens here that will hold your attention the longest

Amboise

Although it is the castle that attracts visitors to Amboise, you will also enjoy exploring the main square and old streets elsewhere in the small town

Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau

The village of Azay-le-Rideau is best known for its castle but also has a pleasant centre with a historic church and mill to explore

Chateau d'Amboise

Chateau d'Amboise

The Chateau d'Amboise is a castle with impressive gardens and a lovely view across the rooftops of Amboise

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Indre-et-Loire

Tourist classifications for Tours

Tours has received the following tourist classifications: listed town of Art and History ; historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé); village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*

Address: Tours, Loire Valley, 37000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 47.393, longitude 0.6891

Plan your visit to Tours, Indre-et-Loire

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby.

  • Cloisters of la Psalette : national monument
  • Le jardin des Prébendes d'Oé: remarkable garden
  • Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire: ville fleurie 4*
  • Les jardins du prieuré de Saint-Cosme: remarkable garden (2 km)
  • Les jardins du château de Villandry : remarkable garden (14 km)
  • Parc et jardins du château de Valmer: remarkable garden (15 km)
  • Aquarium du Val-de-Loire: aquarium (17 km)
  • Les jardins de la Chatonnière: remarkable garden (22 km)
  • Amboise : secteur sauvegarde (22 km)
  • Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau : national monument (22 km)
  • Réserve de Beaumarchais: zoo or wildlife park (27 km)
  • Parc et jardins du château de Chenonceau : remarkable garden (30 km)

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Everything You Want to Know About France and More...

What to see and do in historic Tours in the heart of the Loire Valley

  • Janine Marsh
  • Centre - Val de Loire

Cobbled streets, lined with half-timbered houses and shops in ancient buildings in Tours, Loire Valley

Tours in the department of Centre is the gateway city to the Loire Valley. It makes for a great base to visit the area. But, it’s a terrific place to visit in its own right with wide and grand avenues, a charming old town and Haussmanesque style architecture mixed with medieval, Renaissance and modern. In parts it’s reminiscent of Paris and has in fact been acting capital of France on more than one occasion.

The city centre has a lively air. The old part of town is home to a famous cathedral and winding cobbled streets lined with cafés and restaurants and half-timbered houses.

Discover museums, pretty streets to roam, quirky boutiques and lots of shops. There’s loads to do when you’re not tasting wine in vineyards or chateau hopping in the countryside around.

At just an hour from Paris by train it’s very easy to reach…

Cobbled streets and captivating cafés

Colourful umbrellas over tables set out in Place Plumereau, a popular square for aperitifs in Tours, Loire Valley

Tours has a laidback vibe and nowhere is this more obvious than in the charming pedestrianised Place Plumereau in Vieux Tours (the old part of town). Once called the carroi aux chapeau, the hat market, it is lined with 15th century wood-framed and stone-gabled houses, many of them have been converted into cafés, bistros and restaurants.

This little square was voted the best place in France for an aperitif – it’s easy to see why. Tables and chairs spill out onto the square, colourful umbrellas add a splash of colour, an ancient mulberry tree presides. An exuberant atmosphere hangs over the square thanks to it being popular throughout the day for coffee, lunch, ice cream, aperitifs and dinner. Take your pick from a whole raft of excellent eateries (try Les Trois Rois for somewhere atmospheric, pretty and loved by the locals).

All round Place Plumereau are a hodgepodge of cobbled streets with more cafés, restaurants and shops.

Historic Tours

Woman walks down a cobbled street to a leafy square in Tours, Loire Valley

The Cathedral of Tours is a masterpiece of architecture ranging from flamboyant Gothic to Romanesque and Renaissance. There are some truly spectacular stained glass windows, some of them almost 800 years old. Started in 1239 it took some 300 years to complete and the charming cloisters of the Cathedral featured in Balzac’s Curé de Tours (the character of Madame Garnard lived there).

Inside, a marble tomb is the last resting place of the heirs to the Valois dynasty, the young sons of Charles VIII and Anne of Bretagne. When Charles VIII died (1498) she married his cousin, Louis XII, as he wanted her lands. He had to divorce his wife Jeanne who was interrogated in Tours by church judges who ruled the marriage had never been consummated. The result left him free to marry Anne (Jeanne was later canonised to became Saint Joan of Valois). Anne and Louis had two daughters, one of whom married Francis I, which led to the formal union of France and Brittany.

Where old Tours meets new Tours

Woman holding a printing block demonstrates how wallpaper is made to centuries old traditions in Tours

There really are enough historic buildings here to please the most ardent history lover. Don’t miss the Musée de Beaux Arts which is located in the former Archbishop’s Palace. It houses a wonderful collection of paintings, ceramics and furnishings including silk panels. Tours was once a thriving silk production centre with 20,000 weavers, after Louis XI (King from 1461-1483) moved production from Lyons saying people were too lazy there.

It’s a mix of old and new here. And they’re not done yet. There’s an ongoing programme of opening up walkways along the river, providing more places to eat, drink and shop. In 2017 a brand new and unique art centre opened, the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré . It is contemporary, innovative and hosts mesmerising exhibitions.

And, bringing the old and new together, visit the Atelier d’Ofard , where wallpaper is made by hand to the old methods used in the 17th century. If you’ve ever wondered how the amazing wallpaper you see in Chateaux, such as in the bedroom of Marie-Antoinette at Versailles, then this visit reveals the secrets and history of wallpaper making using wooden blocks and hand mixed pigment. It’s a unique and fascinating tour.

All this discovery builds up an appetite. Luckily you’re in the right place to truly indulge – click here to read about where to eat out in Tours , the places the locals love!

Practical Information for Tours

A vibrant brasserie in a half timbered house on a narrow cobbled street in Tours, Loire Valley

Top tip : Book tours of chateaux from the tourist office. Many of the greats are easily accessible from here, Chenonceau, Villandry and Chambord to mention just a few.

Where to stay : Splash out and indulge at the 4* Hotel Oceania L’Univers . This historic hotel has welcome Rockefeller, Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway amongst many prestigious guests. Wonderfully plush, old school glamour, in a fabulous location and friendly staff. (Parking available).

Great value at Le Grand Tours . There’s a range of rooms styles (and prices) in a terrific art deco building. Friendly staff and conveniently close to Tours station.

Get there : Train from Paris takes a little over an hour.

What to see nearby : Chateau de Chenonceau, the castle of flowers which you can reach by train. You can also take a train to Amboise and Blois from here…

For more information on what to see and do in Tours visit the tourist office: 78-82 Rue Bernard Palissy www.tours-tourism.co.uk

For more information on what to do in the Loire Valley see: www.loirevalley-france.co.uk ;  uk.france.fr

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what to do in Tours, France

What To Do in Tours, France (Guide + Map)

  • December 26, 2023

Located just an hour away by train from Paris, Tours is often used as a base for visiting the chateaux of Loire Valley. It is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, well connected by public transport to the most famous castles in the area. Indeed, from here, you can easily reach the historic palaces of Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois and Amboise.

Once the capital of France, today Tours is a lively city boasting a beautiful historic centre with half-timbered houses and gourmet bistros. A perfect stop on your way through the Loire Valley!

What to do in Tours, France in one day

Thanks to its central location and excellent public transport connections to the nearby towns, Tours is a great base to discover the chateaux of Loire. This is one of the main cities I’d recommend you to base yourself in, especially if you’re travelling by train.

Besides being an excellent base for touring the historic chateaux, Tours itself is worth at least half a day of exploring. Take a walk along the narrow cobbled streets while admiring the half-timbered houses, the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn.

Follow my itinerary to discover the best things to do in Tours, France for one day. You’ll also find what are the most famous chateaux to visit near the city and some restaurant recommendations.

At the end of the blog post, you can find a map of this itinerary (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites).

What to do in Tours in one day

Breakfast at l’atelier du talemelier.

  • Visit Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

Tour de l’Horloge and Tour de Charlemagne

  • Have a cup of coffee at Place Plumereau
  • Admire Hôtel Goüin

Lunch at Les Gens Heureux

  • Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral

Hôtel de Ville de Tours

  • Admire the art at Musée des Beaux-Arts
  • Take a walk in the Botanical Garden
  • Visit the quirky Musée de Compagnonnage

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM Start your one day in Tours with breakfast at L’Atelier du Talemelier or Kat’s Coffee . L’Atelier du Talemelier is a great bakery which offers quality pastries and sandwiches. However, if you prefer to enjoy some delicious cakes with your coffee, head to Kat’s Coffee.

L'Atelier du Talemelier

Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours (Basilica of St. Martin) is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, the third bishop of Tours. It was built over the traditional burial site of the saint in the 5th century AD. During the centuries, the small basilica was replaced several times with larger structures.

The basilica in a Neo-byzantine style that you see today dates from the 19th century. However, you can still see some of the remains of the older Romanesque edifice – the western clock tower and Tour de Charlemagne (Charlemagne Tower). They are located just a few steps away from the current church.

Inside the crypt, you’ll find the tomb of Saint Martin.

Basilica of St. Martin

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Tour de l’Horloge (Clock Tower) and Tour de Charlemagne are the only remnants of the impressive structure of the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of Saint Martin.

Tour de Charlemagne was built on the site of the tomb of Luitgard, the last wife of Charlemagne. The king was so greatly affected by her death in 800, that he decided that Luitgard would be buried in the Basilica of Saint Martin. In the 19th century, the Charlemagne Tower was converted into a water tower.

Although, it’s not possible to visit the towers, take a few moments and admire their structure. Just imagine the grandeur of the 11th-century Romanesque basilica, of which these towers were part!

Tour de l'Horloge

Place Plumereau

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM Place Plumereau is the heart of the historic centre of Tours. It is a lively square with bars and restaurants, framed by charming 15th-century half-timbered houses. A popular place to sit and watch the world go by!

The square is named in honour of Charles Plumereau, a municipal councillor of Tours, who bequeathed 3000 francs to the city.

Place Plumereau

Hôtel Goüin

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM This Renaissance palace served as a private mansion of a family of silk merchants in the 15th century. The façade with its beautiful arches is a real masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. So don’t miss to take a quick look and admire the exterior!

Hôtel Goüin is named after a family of Breton bankers who purchased the building in 1738. And don’t be fooled by the word hotel, this is not an actual hotel, but a museum for temporary art exhibitions.

Hôtel Goüin

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM For lunch head to Les Gens Heureux . This typical French restaurant offers a small selection of interesting dishes with a unique combination of flavours.

Les Gens Heureux

Saint-Gatien Cathedral

02:00 PM – 02:30 PM Tours Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Gatien) is dedicated to the first bishop of Tours – Saint Gatianus. Built between 1170 and 1547, it reflects the development of the Gothic style of architecture. Some of the cathedral’s highlights include the spectacular 13th-14th century stained glass windows and an Italian-style organ.

The cathedral houses the tombs of the children of Anne de Bretagne and Charles VII. Also, you’ll find a chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc. She had met with Charles VII here in Tours, an important meeting which became a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.

Saint-Gatien Cathedral

02:45 PM – 03:00 PM The last stop of this Tours itinerary is the town hall, Hôtel de Ville de Tours. Take your time and enjoy its magnificent Renaissance Revival façade.

The town hall was built between 1896 and 1904 by the famous architect Victor Laloux. It is the same architect who designed the Orsay museum in Paris!

Hôtel de Ville de Tours

Dinner at La Maison des Halles

Finish your one day in Tours with dinner at La Maison des Halles . The wine list here is great and the menu is excellent (don’t miss the desserts – the best I’ve had during a week in France).

La Maison des Halles

More ideas for your one day in Tours, France

Museum of fine arts.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) is housed in the former bishop’s palace. The museum owns a remarkable collection of Italian Primitives from the 14th-15th centuries. Among them are two renaissance paintings by Andrea Mantegna, considered masterpieces. You’ll also find many artworks by Delacroix, Degas, Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens and Rodin.

Don’t miss the staggering cedar tree at the museum entrance, which is over 200 years old!

Castle of Tours

Close to the cathedral, you’ll find the Castle of Tours (Château de Tours). Built in the 11th century, this small chateau served as a residence of the Carolingian dynasty. Today, it houses contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photographs .

Castle of Tours

Church of Saint Julien

The Church of Saint Julien (Église Saint-Julien de Tours) is a part of a former Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century. Most of the church is in Romanesque style and dates back to the 13th century.

Church of Saint Julien

Tours Botanical Garden

Founded in 1843, the Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique de Tours) is the oldest city park. It’s a lovely area with lots of wildlife and thematic gardens – greenhouses, orchards, medical gardens, arboretums and many others. There is also a petting zoo with farm animals like donkeys, sheep, rabbits and poultry!

Musée de Compagnonnage

Musée de Compagnonnage occupies the dormitory at the former Abbey of Saint-Julien. This quirky museum is dedicated to the city’s trade guilds. The exhibition represents various objects related to metalwork, tailoring, culinary, shoemaking and woodcarving.

Where to stay in Tours, France

If you intend to use Tours as a base to explore the Loire castles, take a look at my recommendations below on where to stay. You’ll find most of the historic attractions and restaurants in the area between the Loire River and the Central Railway station. So, I’d advise you to look for accommodations in this area, because you’ll be within walking distance of everything.

Perfectly located in the heart of Tours, just a short walk from everything. Also, the hotel features a good bistro-style restaurant and a wellness centre with Spa, hammam and heated indoor pool. Why book – a short walk from the Old Town and Tours train station, heated indoor pool, private parking

Les Trésorières is an excellent choice for an upscale stay in Tours. Central quiet location and bright spacious room. A great wellness area, featuring a hammam, sauna and an indoor pool. Why book – at walking distance to the Old Town and Tours train station, indoor pool, parking nearby

Tours Old Town

Getting around in Tours, France

Find here a detailed map of this Tours walking itinerary.

The Old Town of Tours is very compact and you can easily explore it by walking in less than an hour.

How to get to Tours, France

Tours is well connected to other major cities in France by train. For example, it’s less than a 2 hours journey from Paris Gare Montparnasse. Tours station (Gare de Tours) is the city’s main railway station. It’s located just a short walk from the Old Town.

Check timetables and book train tickets online at SNCF official website .

Tours is divided into three different types of zones – red, orange and blue. The first two are limited to 3 hours of parking, while the blue one – to 5 hours. However, parking in the Old Town is free on Sundays and Monday – Saturday (between 12 PM – 2 PM and 6:30 PM – 9 AM).

If you’re arriving by car I’d recommend booking a hotel with parking or using any of the paid car parks in the city centre (see a list of all car parks here ).

Day trips from Tours, France

Loire valley chateaux.

Château de Chambord

The central location of Tours makes it a great base to explore the chateaux of Loire Valley. You’ll find a few of the most popular castles just a short train ride away. For more information, take a look at my guide on how to visit the Loire Valley .

Here are the most famous chateaux you can visit near Tours:

  • Château de Chenonceau – known as Château des Dames, it’s the most beautiful Renaissance castle of Loire Valley
  • Château de Chambord – this royal residence is one of the largest chateaux in France
  • Château de Blois – home to 7 kings and 10 queens of France between the 13th and 17th centuries
  • Château d’Amboise – the place where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years and where he is buried
  • Château de Chaumont – a fairytale 10th-century castle, once home to Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers
  • Château de Villandry – is known for its beautiful French Gardens, which consist of several terraces of renaissance gardens

Blois

Blois is one of the most charming towns in the Loire Valley. The city is known for its royal chateau and the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, a Gothic masterpiece. For more information, take a look at my travel guide on how to spend one day in Blois .

How to get to Blois Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare de Blois – Chambord (40min journey). From there, it’s a 10min walk to the Old Town and the chateau.

Angers

Located just a short train ride away, Angers is a great option for a day trip from Tours. The city is famous for its castle, the ancient seat of the Plantagenet dynasty and the Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world. Find out more in my travel guide to the best things to do in Angers .

How to get to Angers Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare d’Angers Saint-Laud (50min journey). From the central train station, it’s about a 10min walk to the city centre.

How many days in Tours, France

Is one day in tours enough.

The city of Tours can be easily visited in less than a day. In fact, most of the people come not for sightseeing but to use the city as a base to explore the nearby castles. Still, there is plenty to see, so dedicate at least half a day to this charming town.

Best time to visit Tours, France

If you intend to visit Tours as a part of your Loire Valley trip, do it in the months of May, June or September. Crowds are fewer and the weather is not hot, but nice and warm.

Faqs about visiting Tours, France

Tours is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is worth visiting not only for the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn, but also for the picturesque half-timbered houses. Thanks to its central location, the city is an excellent base to explore the castles of the Loire Valley.

what to do in tours france

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About the author

Thank you for the blog which covers Tours in depth. We are travelling On Nov 07th to Blois to see three castles and unfortunately all public transport stops on Nov 05th. We don’t have car. Apart from Taxi any other alternate solution ?

Many Thanks -Yoga

Unfortunately, there is no other option, but a taxi. However, there are still a lot of castles, which are are reachable by train – Château de Chenonceau, Château de Blois, Château de Chaumont, Château d’Amboise, Château d’Angers, Château de Langeais, Château de Saumur, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Loches, Château de Chinon and Château de Meung-sur-Loire.

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Tours: The ancient renaissance city in the Loire Valley

You are currently viewing Tours: The ancient renaissance city in the Loire Valley

  • Post category: Loire Valley
  • Post author: Nassie Angadi

The city of Tours is one of the oldest cities in France. Located on the river Loire, it is a beautiful city surrounded by several world-famous châteaux that are within an hours drive.

It is within 1 hour of several famous châteaux in the area like Château de Chenonceau , Château Royale d’Amboise , Château de Chaumont , Château de Chambord , and Château de Cheverny , near the cities of Amboise and Tours . And it is about 3 hours away from Paris, making it ideal for a day trip from the city.

But even before the chateaux of the Loire , the city of Tours is one that marked the history books, dating back to the Roman era. So let’s see why Tours is so famous and what there is to see and do in the city, shall we? Allons-y!

20. Wine tastings

History of tours.

The city of Tours is located with the Loire river on one side and the Cher river on the other. This strategic location made a settlement here of vital importance for centuries. The city was formerly named Caesarodunum by its founder, Roman Emperor Augustus, after his predecessor Julius Caesar who had conquered Gaul (old France) .

Much of what is known about this period is due to the famous 6th century historian Gregoire de Tours who was from the area, and who produced several books about the time, including about Clovis, the 1st King of the Franks .

Tours: The ancient renaissance city in the Loire Valley 1

It was also the location of the historic Battle of Tours of 732, when Frankish tribes led by Charles Martel defeated over the invading Saracen forces who had come from the muslim-ruled Iberian Peninsula (today Spain). The defeat prevented the Sarancen invasion of France, stopping further invasions into northern Europe.

The city of Tours became the seat of the authority of the Counts of Tours (later Counts of Anjou) and the Kings of France , as the capital of the province of Tourraine . The one of the first major currencies used in France was named after the city’s mint, the Livre Tournois .

In the Middle ages, Tours was heavily disputed between the Counts of Anjou and the Counts of Blois . (The English King Richard the Lionheart fought here as he was also the Count of Anjou and Aquitaine, titles gained from war and from his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine .)

The city of Tours became so important, it was practically considered a capital of France between 1430 and 1530, with a continual stay of kings in the province of Touraine.

However, it was the château at Blois (Louis XII’s childhood home) and then Château d’Amboise ( François Ier’s childhood home) where the Kings of France would eventually stay, rather than the Château at Tours.

Although Tours would slowly decline in importance as the French royals would install themselves in Fontainebleau and then eventually Versailles , the city would become the capital of France again briefly in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war . As Paris was under seige for 4 months by the Germans , and the French government operated from Tours during that period.

Small street in Tours

During WWI, Tours became a garrison town with 25,000 American soldiers stationed here in 1917. Factories for the manufacture of uniforms, repair shops for military equipment, munitions dumps, and even an American military hospital was set up to support the Allied armies.

The city of Tours suffered greatly during WWII, when it was severely bombed. Large fires destroyed much of the city’s core. Many monuments around the city are dedicated to this era, including a bridge named after Woodrow Wilson, the U.S. president during the war.

After the war, reconstruction efforts have made it a vibrant center in the Loire valley, and a university town attracting the young and old.

Things to do in Tours

1. tours cathedral.

The Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, which is also known as the Tours Cathedral is one of the grand gothic cathedrals of France .

Tours Cathedral

It is the seat of the Archbishops of Tours, and construction began in the 12th century, around the same time as the cathedrals of Paris , Reims , and Chartres . Earlier churches have stood on the site, dating back to the 4th century.

It is a Roman Catholic church and is also notable for holding the tombs of the children of Anne of Brittany and her first husband, King Charles VIII of France.  (Her 2nd husband was King Louis XII, making her twice the Queen of France.)

In 1793, during the French Revolution , it was nationalised and transformed into a Temple of Reason, until it was finally restored to a church in the 19th century.

2. Château de Tours

Constructed in the 11th century, the Château de Tours stands just footsteps away from the Cathedral of Tours. Unlike the newer and ornamental Renaissance châteaux of the Loire, the Château de Tours is a medieval fortress that was built to defend.

Château de Tours

It was almost completely destroyed in the 18th century, with only two medieval towers remaining. A newer wing to the château was added later. These days it is an events and cultural space, holding temporary exhibitions with paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, photography, and video.

3. Tours Amphitheatre

As Tours used to be a Roman settlement, it used to hold one of the largest amphitheaters of the Roman Empire in France , the Tours Amphitheatre. Known at the time as the  Caesarodunum amphitheater, it is located directly behind the Tours Cathedral and

Walls of Tours Amphitheatre

However, not much of the amphitheatre remains above ground today. Its walls were integrated in the ramparts of the city, along with the Château de Tours, and much of it was completely forgotten and demolished over the centuries.

The amphitheater was rediscovered (1855) during construction works nearby, and its cellars uncovered under the city. You can still see some of the walls and ruins along Rue du Général-Meusnier, Rue Racine and Rue de la Bazoche, which are free to explore.

4. Vieux Tours

In the center of the city of Tours, stands the medieval old town. With its timbered buildings and narrow cobblestone streets, there is much to explore.

Street in Vieux Tours

Notable streets in the area are Rue de Colbert, Rue de Commerce and Rue de Grand Marché, all of which are lined with tiny shops and restaurants.

5. Place Plumereau

Place Plumereau in the center of the old part of Tours is a large square that is lined with restaurants.

Place Plumereau

It is a bustling part of town that gets very busy in the evening, so head over early if you are looking for dinner and a prime spot to watch all the activity.

6. Tours Charlemagne

The Charlemagne tower in Vieux Tours is a remnant of an old basilica dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours . Saint Martin was the local Bishop of Tours from the 3rd century who is heralded as one of the patron saints of France .

Known as Martin the Merciful, he converted to Christianity at a young age and was later sanctified.

Tours Charlemagne

The name of Tour Charlemagne however comes from the 8th century, when Emperor Charlemagne buried his 4th wife Luitgarde d’Alémanie near the tomb, after she died during his stay in Tours.

The Tour Charlemagne is the start of the Circuit Saint Martin to follow the footsteps of Saint Martin. Signs around the city note that the “Pilgrimage of Tours is one of the oldest of Christendom along with ones in Rome, Jerusalem, and Santiago de Compostela”.

7. Basilique Saint-Martin

A few meters across the street from the Tour Charlemagne is the Basilique Saint-Martin. With gold decorations on its dome, it is another stop on the Circuit Saint-Martin.

Basilique Saint-Martin

The present church was built between 1886 and 1924 in a neo-Byzantine style, on the site of a church which dated back to the 6th century.

8. Toue River cruises

Around Tours you will find the traditional flat-bottomed wooden boats called the “Toue” which sail on the Loire and Cher rivers.

“Toue” River cruises

The boats usually sail in the summer time, offering commentary about the local history, stories and other anecdotes while floating past beautiful landscapes. You can catch a toue on the quais along the Loire, from the center of Tours.

9. Musée des beaux arts 

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours is located in a former palace of the Bishops of Tours, near the Cathedral St. Gatien. The museum has a wide collection of paintings from the Middle ages, when Tours was at its height in terms of cultural influence.

There are also many sculptures dating back to antiquity and the Roman era, as well as more recent paintings from the 18th and 19th century. The museum is also famous for its model of Fritz, a stuffed Asian elephant that was shot when it became uncontrollable during a Barnum & Bailey circus parade in Tours in 1902.

10. Botanical garden 

Established in 1843, the Jardin botanique de Tours is a large botanical garden holding over 2000 types of trees and plants.

Botanical garden 

Inside the garden are several greenhouses to allow for a wide variety of plants to be grown, including several exotic species and medical plants. The gardens are open daily, although may be closed on holidays.

11. Halle de Tours

The Halle de Tours is a large French indoor market selling local specialties such as artisan breads , charcuterie , cheeses & wine from the terroir .

Artisan saucissons

The current building dates back to the 19th century, and people flock here form all over the Loire for its gastronomical delights.

12. Château de Villandry

About 20 minutes outside of Tours, you will find the magnificent Château de Villandry and its beautiful gardens . While the other grand châteaux are a bit further away, the Château de Villandry is a lovely place to visit in the afternoon, after visiting the city center of Tours.

Gardens at Chateau de Villandry

Dating back to the 10th century and the Middle ages, the fortress that once stood here was known as the “Coulombiers”. It is believed that the French King Philippe Auguste and English King Richard the Lionheart met at Villandry to discuss peace terms. You can see still see the fortified castle of Coulombiers as it was during this period.

Today, the Château de Villandry is a private château with elaborate exhibitions inside, along with beautiful curated gardens and even a labyrinth maze. You can find guided tours to take you Château de Villandry f r o m T o u r s here.

13. Église Saint-Julien de Tours

A church has stood on the site of the Église Saint-Julien de Tours since the 6th century. The current building dates mostly back to the 13th century after it was destroyed and rebuilt many times (including during WWII).

14. Harry Potter store (Les Trois sorciers)

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will want to check out Les Trois sorciers shop in Tours. It is located on Rue du Commerce and is dedicated to toys, books, and tricks for all sorts of sorcery and witchery.

15. Musée du Compagnonnage

Just in front of the Église Saint-Julien de Tours church is the Musée du Compagnonnage.

Musée du Compagnonnage

It is a museum displaying crafts & exhibits relating to the trade-guilds and their history. Skilled labor works such as stone sculpting, woodcarving, etc are located in what used to be an abbey attached to the church, along with temporary exhibitions.

16. Hotel Gouin

An emblematic building in the city of Tours is the Hotel Gouin. It is a 15th century hotel particulier (private mansion) that was the home of a family of silk merchants.

Hotel Gouin

The sub-basement contains Galloroman remains, but the visible facade dates from the 16th century in early Renaissance style. Inside is an exhibition center featuring various exhibitions and events for limited periods of time.

17. American Monument Fountain

The Monument aux morts Américain de Tours was constructed by the U.S. Government in dedication to the 640,000 soldiers who served in the area during WWI.

American Monument fountain

The American Services of Supply (SOS) had their headquarters in Tours, supporting the expeditionary forces that were operating across Western Europe.

This fountain with its golden eagle stands on the quai of the Loire river, right next to Pont Wilson bridge, in dedication to their bravery.

18. Resistance and Deportation Memorial

Right next to the American monument stands the Resistance and Deportation memorial for those who fought and lost their lives during WWII.

Resistance and Deportation Memorial

On the banks of the river Loire, it is a beautiful place to reflect on the past and the history that has occurred on the city’s shores.

19. Loire Valley châteaux

The Loire Valley is famous for its multitude of châteaux and the city of Tours is right in the thick of things.

The châteaux of Chambord , Blois , Chenonceau , Chaumont and Chéverny are within 1 hour, and the city of Amboise (with the Château Royale d’Amboise ) is also within 30 minutes. The various Loire Valley châteaux are officially recognized on the UNESCO world heritage list .

Chateau de Chambord

Along with those famous châteaux and royal palaces , there are several smaller châteaux for nobility who lived in the area and built housing near the seat of power during the Renaissance.

In all, you can easily spend a week in the area, going from château to château and exploring the area. (For those travelling with children, there is also the Zoo de Beauval at Saint-Aignan within 50 minutes of Tours, if you want to a break between the châteaux.)

One of the local specialties in and around Tours is the Loire valley wines. Although not as famous as other French wines , they have a following of their own and are gaining in popularity.

Loire valley wine map

The Loire Valley mostly produces white wines , but there are some red wiens as well. The area is the second-largest concentration of sparkling-wine producing vines in France after the Champagne region.

Having French royalty like François I and Catherine de Medici nearby as well as the British royals, meant that their courtiers and followers all got used to drinking wines from the Loire Valley, and effectively marketed the wines to other nobles and royals around France and Europe.

There are many wine-tasting tours that will combine with chateaux visits in the Loire Valley.

Tours: The ancient renaissance city in the Loire Valley 2

How to get to Tours?

The city of Tours is quite accessible from Paris by car and by train. It takes approximately 2h15 to drive from Paris depending on traffic. By train, you can take a TGV high speed train from Paris’s Montparnasse station to the city of Tours, which takes approximately 1 hour.

There are also various tour options leaving from Tours which head to the Château de Chambord and Chenonceau and other sights in the area. Certain tours combine wine-tasting and sightseeing. You can see the  tour options for the city of Tours  here.

How easy is it getting around?

The city of Tours is quite walkable, and there are several large parking lots that you can park your car at and visit all the centrally located sights. One of the larger parking lots is right under the quai in front of Pont Wilson bridge. From there you will find the Cathedral of Tours and the Château on one side, with the Old Tours on the other.

How many days should you spend?

I would suggest spending at least a day in Tours, to explore its different streets and neighborhoods. You can choose to base yourself here and stay overnight for a few days as there are several châteaux and vineyards in the surrounding area.

Where should you stay?

There are several wonderful hotels in the Tours city center, near all the sights and shops. Some recommended hotels are:

  • €€€ – Hotel Du Cygne Tours
  • €€€€ – Oceania L’Univers Tours
  • €€€€€ – Les Trésorières hotel

You can also choose to stay in nearby Amboise or Blois which are a bit closer to the other famous châteaux of the Loire.

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If you enjoyed that article, you may like to read more about traveling around the Loire Valley . A bientôt!

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Journey To France

10 Best Things To Do In Tours, France

By: Author Christine Rogador

Posted on Published: August 14, 2021  - Last updated: February 20, 2023

Are you looking for the best things to do in Tours, France ?

The birthplace of Honoré de Balzac , one of France’s greatest authors , the city of Tours is the gateway to the Loire Valley . It was also once the base of the French government.

Planked by the rivers Cher and Loire, Tours is the largest city in the French region of Centre-Val de Loire. It offers sights and activities you cannot (and should not) say no to.

Things you'll find in this article

1. Be awed by Loire Valley’s famous chateaux in Tours

2. understand why tours is known as “le jardin de la france” , 3. visit cathédrale saint gatien de tours, 4. enjoy the medieval and local atmosphere at place plumereau, tours, 5. visit the past at the musée du compagnonnage, 6. pay homage to st. martin at the basilique saint martin, 7. stroll across pont wilson (wilson bridge), 8. meet the giant cedar tree at the musée des beaux-arts de tours, 9. buy flowers at marché aux fleurs (flower market), travel tips and resources.

THINGS TO DO IN TOURS FRANCE

Here are the best things to do and see in Tours, France

Chateau de Tours

If you’re visiting Tours, you simply can’t not be awed by the famous Loire Valley chateaux found in this city – Château de Tours, Château de La Branchoire, Château de Beaulieu, and Château de la Crouzillière, to name a few. 

These beautiful old chateaux should get you started. 

jardin des Prebendes

Dubbed the “Garden of France,” Tours is home to numerous parks located within the city. 

The Botanical Garden, which dates to the mid-19th century, is a nice place to visit especially if you have children. There are also some animals in the gardens which make it more interesting.

Jardins des Prébendes d’Oé, with its lake, big sequoia trees, a number of quiet spots to sit and rest, and a nice little café by the main gates, is a delightful park hidden away in the city. It’s worth finding it.

Parc Honoré de Balzac, named after the famous French author – Tours’ very own – is on a man-made island. It has a play area, an animal park, and a river if you want to practice canoeing. 

These are but a few of numerous parks and gardens that make Tours quite the “Garden of France.”

Cathedrale St-Gatien deTours

A must-visit when in Tours, Cathédrale Saint Gatien de Tours, also known as Tours Cathedral, is a magnificent building that’s beautiful inside and out. 

Hands down the best church in Tours, it was constructed in stages from 1170 to 1547, between the Gothic and Renaissance styles. It’s definitely one of the best you’ll ever see.

The garden next door also provides the perfect view of the church towers.

Place Plumereau

Place Plumereau is the heart of Old Tours. 

Situated in the center of the old quarters of the city, Place Plumereau’s main feature is the 15th-century half-timbered houses that make it such a perfect place to enjoy the medieval and local atmosphere.

The square is brimming with restaurants and cafés so you can admire the beautiful Romanesque and Renaissance façades while you sip your latte.

Musée du Compagnonnage is a small museum that showcases intricate crafts and exhibits so you can have a glimpse into how the trades developed in France. 

This is a must-see museum if you want to visit the past and pay tribute to forgotten craftsman and artisans who made masterpieces with their brains and bare hands. 

The trades museum is right at the end of the main shopping street so it’s very accessible.

Basilique Saint-Martin

A lovely church built over the tomb of St. Martin of Tours, Basilique Saint Martin has a very long history. 

The site itself dates back to the 5th century, when the first church was built. It was completely destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793. The present church was constructed between 1886 and 1924 in a neo-Byzantine style.

It is an interesting place to visit, a definite stop whether you’re a Catholic or not. A visit to the crypt downstairs is unmissable. Go see for yourself!

Wilson Bridge

Pont Wilson was built between 1765 and 1778, making it the oldest bridge in Tours. This historical monument is named in honor of Woodrow Wilson, 28th president of the United States and an ally of France during the First World War.

Pont Wilson was destroyed by a terrible flood but has been restored to its original state since. You can tell from the high water marks just how severe the floods were in the past centuries.

A stroll across this famous bridge provides some excellent views of the city skyline on either sides, as well as the charming riverside cafés. 

Garden at Musee des Beaux Arts in Tours France

… and while you’re there, go and check out the museum’s impressive collection of eclectic art! 

Also, say hi to the stuffed elephant in front of the museum.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Tours houses over 12,000 works – however, only a thousand are on public show. Still a good number, though.

The giant cedar of Lebanon, the stuffed elephant, and those fine artworks inside are all masterpieces surely not to be missed when in Tours.

If you’re like me who neither has the time nor the inclination to go on a trip to the local market, well, this is your chance for a market experience while on a holiday!

There is a large flower market in the streets of Tours twice a week – Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

A market that smells heavenly; what more can you ask for? Here they sell not just flowers but craft items as well, so you can also get some souvenirs while you shop for tulips and sunflowers.

And of course, photos are compulsory with all the colorful blooms around.

10. Sample the world-famous Loire Valley wines in Tours

church in tours france

If you love fine wine , Tours is your piece of heaven on earth. The number of AOCs (“appellation d’origine contrôlée”/”controlled designation of origin”) in and around Tours is simply insane! 

The Loire Valley wine region is known for producing dry, white wines, as well as tannin-rich red wines.

So a trip to the Loire Valley without tasting its wines is committing a sin and definitely unheard of. So oenophile or not, go have a sip or two (or twenty-two) of Chenin Blanc!

Travel Insurance: I never leave home without travel insurance. My personal opinion is if you can afford to travel, you can afford to buy a travel insurance. All things can happen while on the road and you can never be too sure. And it's something that you'll be glad to have when you need it. For my preferred travel insurance, I use Safety Wing .

What To Wear: If you want some ideas on what to pack for France, check out this packing list guide for France .

Where To Stay: I personally use Booking.com for all my accommodations. Check out for their latest deals here .

Reading Resources: Check out our best reading resources here .

Christine Rogador in the Louvre

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.

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Tour de France 2024 Contender Power Rankings

Three and a half months out from the start of the men’s Tour de France, we ranked the top yellow jersey threats in the peloton.

cycling fra tdf2023 stage15

This is the first edition of Bicycling’ s Power Rankings for the 2024 Men’s Tour de France, where we rank the top contenders leading up to July’s race. This continuously updated list will give you an in-depth look at the riders that have the best shot to stand atop the podium at the end of the Tour—and how they’re performing in the races leading up to July.

These rankings will be constantly refreshed, so you can see who’s up and who’s down on the road to the 2024 Tour de France.

This year’s Tour is expected to bring together the sport’s four best grand tour riders: Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), winner of the last two Tours de France; Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), winner of the 2020 and 2021 Tours de France; Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), winner of the 2022 Vuelta a España; and Slovenia’s Primož Roglič (BORA-hansgrohe), a 3-time winner of the Vuelta and the winner of last year’s Giro d’Italia.

Each rider is taking a different path to the Tour de France, with each mixing race days with extended periods of time spread all over Europe at training camps–either alone or with their teammates. And while some of their paths will cross at certain races throughout the first half of the season, they won’t all race together until the Tour. We’ll keep checking-in regularly as they continue compete—either alone or against one another.

Below, you’ll find the first edition of Bicycling ’s Men’s Tour de France Power Rankings.

headshot

Jonas Vingegaard

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Race Days : 11

Race Wins : 7

Best Result : 1st-place, General Classification - Tirreno-Adriatico

Next Race : Tour of the Basque Country, April 1-6

Less than a week after Pogačar demolished the field to win Strade Bianche after an 81-kilometer solo breakaway, the two-time defending Tour de France champ held serve with a race-breaking solo attack of his own on Stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico, an important early-season stage race. 

Like Pogačar, the Dane capped off some super work by his teammates, attacking on the steepest section of the San Giacamo climb, 29K from the stage finish. He won the stage by over a minute, seizing control of the General Classification. As if to emphasize his strength, Vingegaard then won Stage 6, another mountain stage, this time finishing atop Monte Petrano. By the end of the day, he led the Italian stage race by 1:24, a gap that he maintained through the end of the race one day later. 

Vingegaard’s season was already off to an impressive start: in late-February he dominated Spain’s Gran Camiño, winning three of four stages and the General Classification in a repeat of his performance last year. 

And to make matters worse for the riders and teams looking to defeat him, Vingegaard’s teammates are looking (almost) as strong as their captain. American Matteo Jorgenson–new to the team this year–defeated two of the men on this list to win Paris-Nice, Belgium’s Cian Uijtdebroeks–another new signing–worked hard for the Dane at Tirreno and still finished seventh overall.

At this point, the only knock against Vingegaard is the fact that he looks too strong for early-March. The Tour is still months away, how can he possibly maintain or even better increase his current form? If he truly isn’t yet at his best, then good luck to anyone hoping to beat him in July. But if he and his team have peaked too soon, they could be setting themselves up for a major upset. 

But if the next month plays out like the last, we could soon be talking about one main contender to win the Tour, followed by a second–and maybe even third–tier of riders fighting to stand beside him on the podium.

headshot

Tadej Pogačar

Read the complete analysis.

Race Wins : 1

Best Result : 1st-place, Strade Bianche

Next Race : Milano-Sanremo, March 16

Vingegaard’s Tirreno performance was perhaps a response to Pogačar’s ride at the previous Saturday’s Strade Bianche, an one-day event raced on the white gravel roads of Tuscany. Perhaps looking to make a statement in his first race of the season, the Slovenian attacked 82K from the finish line in Siena—and won. Alone.

At first it looked like he was just accelerating as a means of stretching his legs, or perhaps to see which of his rivals (and admittedly there were few that day) would come along with him. But once he saw that he had a solid gap, Pogačar forged on to build a lead that at one point approached 4 minutes. He was gone.

Like Visma-Lease a Bike at Tirreno less than a week later, Pog’s team had done a wonderful job of setting up their captain’s attack, culling down the leading group prior to his acceleration—the rain and wind helped—so that by the time the Slovenian did make his move, there was little anyone could do about it.

That said, while the performance should be added to the long list of Pogačar’s masterpieces, it’s not enough to put him ahead of the Dane in our power rankings.

 The Slovenian has lost the last two Tours to France to Vingegaard, which means he enters the season firmly behind the Danish rider in the pecking order of Tour de France contenders. So he’ll need to do something truly incredible–or the Dane will have to experience an extraordinary setback–in order to leapfrog his rival. 

Pogačar’s next race is Milan-Sanremo, where he hopes to win one of the only two Monuments still missing from his palmares. Then he’ll race the Volta Catalunya in Spain, which will likely be his final stage race before the Giro in May, his first major goal of the 2024 season, which also means that his program is much different from the other riders on this list. 

headshot

Remco Evenepoel

Race Days : 14

Race Wins : 4

Best Result : 2nd place, General Classification - Paris-Nice

Since winning the 2022 Vuelta a España, Evenepoel hasn’t won another grand tour. He was leading last year’s Giro d’Italia after one week of racing, but tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of the Giro’s first Rest Day and went home. 

Despite the early exit, he stuck to his pre-season plan and skipped the Tour de France, but returned to the Vuelta in the hopes of defending his title. Unfortunately, a bad (really bad) day in the Pyrenees put those plans to rest, so he settled for winning three stages and the King of the Mountains competition. 

Now he’s set to final race the Tour de France, and all of Belgium is abuzz in the hopes that Evenepoel can become the first Belgian to win the Tour since 1976.

So far, so good for the 24-year-old in 2024. He won his first race of the season, a minor Spanish road race, then took home the Volta ao Algarve, a tough early season stage race in Portugal. 

Next came last week’s Paris-Nice, where a few hiccups kept him off the stop step of the podium. First, his team had a late start time in Stage 3’s team time trial, which meant they had to race in the rain. Their time suffered as a result.

Then Evenepoel hesitated when a dangerous breakaway went up the road near the end of Stage 6. Jorgenson attacked, pulling away Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and the United States’ Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates). The trio went on to finish 52 seconds ahead of Evenepoel, which cost him a chance to win the race overall.

Escaping along with Jorgenson on the final day, Evenepoel did win Stage 8 and moved up to second overall by the end of the week. But it wasn’t a performance on par with Vingegaard or Pogačar. 

The shame about Evenepoel is the fact that the better he does in the run-up to the Tour, the greater the pressure will be once he gets there. And for a rider who seems to have some marginal gains still to be made in terms of the mental game one needs in order to win a pressure-filled race like the Tour de France, that’s a big hill to climb. (In addition to the lapse that saw him lose so much time on Stage 6, he took a swipe at a former teammate after Tuesday’s team trial because he believed–wrongly–that the rider had impeded the team while it was still out on the course.)

His next race is the Tour of the Basque Country, a hilly stage race in northern Spain. There he’ll face Vingegaard for the first time this season, a clash that will go a long way toward telling us if Evenepoel is a true Tour contender or not.

headshot

Primož Roglič

Race Days : 8

Race Wins : 0

Best Result : 3rd place, Stage 7, Paris-Nice

After losing the captaincy of Visma’s Tour de France squad to Vingegaard, the 34-year-old Slovenian transferred to BORA-hansgrohe this past off-season in the hopes of finally winning the Tour de France. 

He’s playing the long game–and he can afford to given BORA’s deep roster–which means he’s racing minimally in his build-up to the Tour de France. Paris-Nice was his first race of the season, and he looked, well, rusty.

But he got better as the race progressed, with the highlight of his week being a third-place finish atop La Madone at the end of Stage 7. He hung with the race favorites right until the end, crossing the line in a 4-man group containing Evenepoel, Skjelmose (who might work his way onto this list by July), and Jorgenson, the eventual race winner. 

Perhaps most importantly, he came out of the race healthy, which means he can head back to his training and continue to build for his next race, the Tour of the Basque Country, which will be his first head-to-battle against Vingegaard, his former teammate. If he hasn’t taken another step forward in his preparation, expect him to move further down our ranking.

headshot

Egan Bernal

Race Days : 20

Best Result : 3rd place, General Classification - Gran Camiño

Next Race : Volta a Catalunya, March 18-24

The previous four riders are the men mentioned most as the main GC contenders for the 2024 Tour de France, but we’ve got our eyes on one more–one who could upset the applecart in a big way. 

Back in 2019, Egan Bernal became the third-youngest Tour de France winner in the history of the race. And we all thought the Colombian was poised to dominate the race for the next decade. But then Pogačar won the race in 2020, becoming the second-youngest rider to ever win the Tour, and then he won it again in 2021. Then Vingegaard won in 2022, and defended his title in 2023. 

Bernal won the Giro d’Italia in 2021, but then suffered a life- and career-threatening crash in early 2022 while training Colombia. No one was sure if he’d ever race again, let alone be a contender. 

Well, after spending much of 2023 just getting back to being a rider again–which saw him earn a spot on INEOS’ Tour de France team–he’s now showing signs that he might once again be a grand tour challenger. 

He started his season in Colombia, where he finished sixth and third in his national time trial and road race championships. Then he finished fifth overall at the Tour of Colombia, and third overall at the Gran Camiño. 

Next came Paris-Nice, where he made one move that really caught our eye: the Colombian attacked late in Stage 1–in terrible weather conditions–gaining a handful of bonus seconds in the process. By the end of the race, those seconds were meaningless: he finished the race seventh overall. But what the result doesn’t show is the fact that Bernal looks like a racer again, someone with tenacity and grit needed to once again–maybe–win a grand tour. 

At the rate he’s going, we could be talking about Bernal as a podium contender by the time the Tour de France arrives. For a rider a little more than two years removed from the crash that nearly ruined his life, that’s an incredible–and exciting–prospect.

Under Consideration

For now, we’re capping our ranking at just five riders, as there aren’t many more with a reasonable chance of actually winning the Tour or contending for a spot on the final podium in Paris. But that could change over the coming weeks, and there are a few riders who might crack the top-5.

We mentioned Mattias Skjelmose (LIDL-Trek) a few times earlier in the ranking. The Dane won a stage at Paris-Nice and finished fourth overall. His next race is also the Tour of the Basque Country, and a good showing there should get him into the top-5. The biggest knock against the 23-year-old right now is the fact that he’s only raced two grand tours and never finished inside the top-10. Expect that to change this year.

Spain’s Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) was INEOS’ best-placed at last year’s Tour. The 23-year-old finished fifth in last year’s and has enjoyed a quiet start to the season; so far he’s finished the Gran Camiño and Paris-Nice.

We’re also keeping our eyes on American Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike), Spain’s Enric Mas (Movistar), and Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).

Since getting hooked on pro cycling while watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship in Philadelphia, longtime Bicycling contributor Whit Yost has raced on Belgian cobbles, helped build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux as an assistant director sportif. These days, he lives with his wife and son in Pennsylvania, spending his days serving as an assistant middle school principal and his nights playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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More details on organist in concert, tours among this week's entertainment

World-class organist to play world-class organ at first presbyterian church in april.

First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo invites the public to hear one of the world’s acclaimed organists on one of the world’s largest organs.

The concert will take place on Sunday, April 7, featuring world-traveled concert organist Ken Cowan. The free performance will be at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 1100 S. Harrison St. A reception will follow the concert. Tickets are requested and may be acquired through: https://www.firstpres.com/pipe-organ .

According to his Rice University biography, Cowan is regarded as one of North America’s finest concert organists and is praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique, and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike. He maintains a rigorous performing schedule that takes him to major concert venues in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Norman Goad, Director of Music and Organist for the church and owner of NEG Keyboard Services, is the builder of the organ, two years in its manufacturing and installation. According to Goad, based on its 117 ranks and 135 speaking stops, of the approximately 120,000 organs, this is among the 50 largest organs in the world, as well as one of the most technologically advanced. One can actually feel the 32-foot bass stops played by the organist’s feet. 53 of the ranks come through the 3,965 pipes. The remaining 64 ranks are digital and are computer-generated through 31 speakers in four chambers, via 14 channels of audio, sampled at 192 kilohertz – more than 4 times that of CD audio, a news release notes.

The console features E.M. Skinner architectural features, and designed to blend perfectly into the church’s Gothic sanctuary. The four keyboards have walnut sharps and satin finish naturals. The 158 drawknobs consist of walnut shanks with maple rings and ivory-colored engraved heads. The organ was made possible by a gift from the Allison family.

Panhandle Boys to raise funds for wildfire relief at Starlight Ranch concert

The Panhandle Boys will host a West Texas Wildfire Relief Concert benefitting the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund on March 24 at the Starlight Ranch, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr. in Amarillo. The concert will feature three Texas Panhandle natives, including Randall King, Kevin Fowler and Aaron Watson.

The event will feature live music, food trucks, beverage specials and more. In addition to the concert, the artists are slated to bring some autographed merchandise as well as fellow artists' signed material for a live auction benefitting the fund.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund, an initiative created by the Amarillo Area Foundation providing assistance to those affected by disasters in the Texas Panhandle region, offering immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts to individuals and families impacted by natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and severe storms.

Guests 18 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Doors are slated to open at 4 p.m. but may be announced to open sooner. The concert is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased and donations can be made directly to the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund online at PanHandleBoys.com .

For more information or updates on this event, follow the Starlight Ranch on Facebook. For more information on the Amarillo venue and other upcoming shows, visit the Starlight Ranch website.

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall to perform March 28 at Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts

Music icon Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, will be making their first ever concert appearance in Amarillo at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, Thursday March 28, with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.

Music icon Herb Alpert and his wife Lani Hall, Grammy-winning vocalist and former lead singer of Brazil 66 with Sergio Mendes, and their classic recordings, "Mas Que Nada", "Fool On The Hill", "Going Out Of My Head" and "Daytripper," will be heard live in concert during this tour.

Herb is celebrating his 61st year since recording his first hit song, "The Lonely Bull" in 1962. Herb, Lani and their incredible band, perform an eclectic mix of American standards, Brazilian jazz, some Beatles, some classic Tijuana Brass & Brazil '66 songs as well as many surprises. The shows are informal as Herb loves to answer questions from the audience about his and Lani's music careers, A&M Records and the many iconic artists they have both worked with over the past 50 years. The show features a giant video screen that displays hundreds of classic photos, videos, and various memorabilia from Herb & Lani's music careers.

Tickets are on sale now; patrons can purchase tickets online at panhandletickets.com, in person at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex box office, by phone (806) 378-3096, and participating area United Supermarkets.

AMoA 20x20 Exhibition & Silent Auction to be held in March

Now in its 18th year, the Amarillo Museum of Art's (AMoA) 20x20 Exhibition & Silent Auction is scheduled to take place later this month. The annual fundraiser is designed to celebrate art and support AMoA’s innovative education programs as well as the local artist community.

This year, AMoA is looking forward to welcoming patrons to the museum for a 20 x 20 reception on March 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This year’s exhibition will be installed for museum visitors to view in person at the AMoA for two days, March 27-28. Images of the artworks will also be featured on the AMoA website, where they can be viewed, and bid on, from the comfort of a home computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Artworks will be sold to the highest bidder, with bids starting at $150. All bidding will take place online. Bidding will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 22 and end at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28.

"The generosity and support shown by artists and art collectors is vital to our museum and greatly appreciated by the AMoA Board of Trustees, Alliance, and staff," a news release says. "Participation in this event enables AMoA to continue bringing first-class art programming to area schools."

For more information, call (806) 371-5050, or email [email protected]. The Amarillo Museum of Art is located at 2200 South Van Buren on the Washington Street campus of Amarillo College. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Cirque Italia's 'Paranormal Cirque' in Starlight Ranch parking lot through March 17

Cirque Italia's newest round of thrills, "Paranormal Cirque," wraps up its current run Sunday, March 17 under its iconic White & Black Big Top Tent in the Starlight Ranch Event Center parking lot, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr. in Amarillo.

Remaining show hours are 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17. The box office hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on show days.

Do you love thrilling, wicked, or even dangerous things? Paranormal Cirque will expose you to a unique creation of combined theatre, circus, and cabaret with a new European style flare. Cirque Italia is now presenting a brand-new show for a mature audience. This innovative horror story features different shades of sexy and an incomparable storyline - the only thing you can be sure of during this unique experience is that you will not know what to expect, a news release says, noting it might be hard to divide reality and illusion.

At the Paranormal Cirque show, you will "fall into a parallel world and end up surrounded by monstrous creatures with hidden talents that will amaze you with the circus arts. This show is NOT for the faint of heart. You may have to catch your breath or try to stop your heart from racing during this adrenaline filled performance," the release says. Featuring artists from all over the world, a few of the circus arts you can expect to see in this new production include the Wheel of Death, mystifying MAGIC and more.

For more information visit www.paranormalcirque.com , check their social media accounts or contact (941) 704-8572. Tickets can be purchased now starting at $10, depending on availability. Admission is for mature audiences; those younger than 18 require an accompanying parent or guardian. This show has adult language and material.

Dali's Wonderland exhibition opens at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) recently debuted its newest exhibit, "Dali's Wonderland."

PPHM is excited to welcome this new exhibition in its Bugbee Gallery. Originally published by Lewis Carroll in 1865, the dream-like world of "Alice in Wonderland" is a natural match for the surrealist art movement. A hundred years later, Salvador Dali, surrealism’s most important figure, illustrated a version of the story that incorporated his iconic melting clocks and other avant-garde imagery. Featuring a limited edition copy of the book from the personal library of Sybil B. Harrington, it was a gift from her daughter Sally. This book came into Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Collection in 2022 through the help of the Harrington House and Jessica Mallard at WT. "Dali’s Wonderland" explores the relationship between art and literature.

“Dali is one of the most recognizable artists of the 20th Century and the most known surrealist artist. I think it is important to highlight the significance of those kinds of movements and how they connect to our collection, here at PPHM. I think that this exhibition really connects our part of the world to the rest of the world. It also gives us the opportunity to take about art, literature and the connections between them, specifically Wonderland and Lewis Carroll’s iteration of Alice in Wonderland, to the surrealism movement which was heavily involved in literature, and poetry, etc,” said Deana Craighead, Curator of Art at PPHM.

"Dali’s Wonderland" is in partnership with the West Texas A&M University Information Technology Department. Thanks to this partnership, the exhibition will feature a virtual flipbook of Dali’s works. In the coming months, IT will also be working with to create an artificial intelligence and augmented reality aspects to this exhibition. The museum will offer some special programming this summer around the exhibition and those details will be announced soon.

Located on the campus of West Texas A&M University, PPHM offers visitors a chance to step into Texas Panhandle history with special exhibits, a permanent collection, special events and more. For more information about PPHM, visit www.panhandleplains.org.

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour swimming to Amarillo Civic Center Complex on April 21

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour will have two shows at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S Buchanan St. at noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

Tickets for the performances may be purchased online on the tour's site, www.babysharkontour.com. Tickets start at $25 (while supplies last - additional fees and taxes may apply) and are also available at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Box Office and panhandletickets.com. Prices are subject to change.

Nickelodeon, The Pinkfong Company and VStar Entertainment Group present Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour!, a brand-new interactive live stage show featuring characters from the globally beloved preschool property. This tour brings the underwater world of the hit animated series, Baby Shark’s Big Show!, to life through an all-new original story, as audience members come together with Baby Shark and his undersea friends to save the Party Puddle Theatre. Featuring unforgettable music, with exciting twists on classic Baby Shark tunes, and mesmerizing visual effects, this staged “swimtacular” is jampacked with action and adventure for the whole family to enjoy.

A limited number of Fintastic Photo Op tickets are available, starting at $50. This pre-show experience will provide an up close and in person photo opportunity with Baby Shark and includes an exclusive gift for each kid. Each adult and kid (age 1 & up) must have their own “Fintastic Photo Op” ticket. Each guest must have both a Fintastic Photo Op ticket and a Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour! show ticket (sold separately) for the same date.

For more information or to join the Whale Mail mailing list for presale and other exclusive offers, visit www.babysharkontour.com. Follow Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour! on Facebook and Instagram at @babysharkontour .

From Salt Lake City Utah, The Church Extends Humanitarian Aid to Samoa

The manti utah temple is opening for public tours, renovation completed on pioneer-era house of the lord.

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The open house for the Manti Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is underway in Manti, Utah, following renovation.

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Media attended a news conference and tour of the house of the Lord on Monday, March 11, 2024. Those participating in the event included Elder Hugo E. Martinez , General Authority Seventy and First Counselor, Utah Area Presidency; Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt , General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director, Priesthood and Family Department and the Temple Department; and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson .

“Our main message is to be sure that we share the message of the importance of the temple in growing in our discipleship of Jesus Christ,” said Elder Martinez.

“The temple will help us fulfill the purpose of our existence here on earth. We come here to acquire a body and to be tested and to grow and to become better persons. As we become disciples of Jesus Christ, we can fulfill that purpose,” said Nuria Martinez.

“There is a beautiful depiction of the Savior as the shepherd holding a lamb and, of course, He is the Lamb of God, a beautiful reminder of why we're here in the house of the Lord, to make covenants with God and through the ordinances that are performed here have the opportunity to return to our heavenly home because of our Savior,” shared President Johnson.

“What a wonderful opportunity as we come to this temple, which is so beautiful to see beyond the artwork and the furnishings and to see into the hearts of these pioneers,” added Elder Schmitt.

“We regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the Church,” said Church President and Prophet Russell M. Nelson at the April 2019 general conference after announcing the Manti Utah Temple renovation. “As we speak of our temples old and new, may each of us signify by our actions that we are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we renovate our lives through our faith and trust in Him.”

The public open house for the historic temple in central Utah will run from Thursday, March 14, through Friday, April 5, 2024, excluding Sundays. The temple rededication will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Free reservations can be scheduled online .

“This is a wonderful opportunity to invite everyone. Certainly, we want to invite members of the Church, but also all of our friends, all of our neighbors, all of the members of the community,” said Elder Schmitt.

Most of the current renovations have been to upgrade building systems and support spaces in the annex and to preserve the sacred structure. A new entrance and gathering space were added on the north side of the annex along with a bride-and-groom exit. The landscape was upgraded with new plants and trees throughout the site.

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Most interior improvements were completed in support areas of the temple, including a new marriage waiting room; additional lockers in dressing areas; and refreshed carpet, paint, and furniture in selected areas. Other interior changes included updated mechanical and plumbing systems and laundry equipment.

Highly skilled art conservators meticulously restored historical murals throughout the temple.

Manti Temple History

Church President Brigham Young sent a group of more than 220 Latter-day Saints to settle in the Sanpete Valley in 1849. They first camped where the Manti temple would eventually stand.

"One thing I love about the Manti temple is the way that it sits in this valley, that when you drive in, you have this beacon, this light on the hill," said Emily Utt, Church historic sites curator. 

The Manti Utah Temple has served the Latter-day Saints of the Sanpete Valley in central Utah for over 135 years. Architect William Folsom designed the pioneer-era temple. It was originally dedicated in 1888 after 11 years of construction.

The Manti Utah Temple is one of the Church’s 28 houses of the Lord dedicated or under construction or renovation in Utah. A new temple is being built in the nearby community of Ephraim .

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ are different from meetinghouses or chapels where members gather for Sunday worship services. A temple is considered a house of the Lord, where the teachings of Jesus Christ are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ceremonies that unite families for eternity.

Additional Resources

Style Guide Note: When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide .

To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use . Download a photo or video by clicking or tapping on it. To download all photos or videos related to this article, select the links at the bottom of each section.

church in tours france

Nearly 500 victims of church sex abuse in France have received financial compensation

An independent French body in charge of a reparation program for victims of child sexual abuse by priests or church representatives says that nearly 500 people have so far received financial compensations from France’s Catholic Church

NICE, France -- Hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse by priests or church representatives have received financial compensation so far from France ’s Catholic Church under a sweeping reparations program, an independent body in charge of the process said Thursday.

An annual report by the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation said 1,351 victims came forward to claim compensation and seek psychological support in an effort to recover from childhood trauma.

The average age of victims who have come forwards is 61, Marie Derain de Vaucresson, the head of the body said during a news conference Thursday.

Of them, 66%, are men and 34% are women, she said. The claims process started in 2022.

So far, the reparations authority has approved compensation claims of 489 victims, the report said. Of those, 88 people were granted the maximum of 60,000 euros ($65,000). Last year, 358 victims’ compensation claims were approved, with each individual granted an average amount of 35,310 euros, the report said.

France’s Catholic bishops’ conference agreed to provide reparations after a 2021 report estimated that some 330,000 children were sexually abused for over 70 years by priests or other church-related figures in France.

The estimates were based on broader research by France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research into sexual abuse of children.

The report described a “systemic” coverup by church officials and urged the French Catholic Church to respect the rule of law in France.

Once the reparations authority approves the financial compensation, each case is sent to a special fund financed by the church for payment.

The majority of those who reached out to the authority in 2023 reported “very serious” crimes, the report said, including being repeatedly raped.

In 39% of the cases, the abuses continued for more than a year and in 12% of the cases the abuser psychologically manipulated the victim for up to five years after the last physical assault, according to the report.

Victims were between 6 and 15 years old when they were abused, the report said.

Reparations also include non-financial support — such as help for victims to write down their stories, meetings with local church representatives or installing a plaque in memory of the victims. Some 780 victims are now being assisted by the authority.

The assistance includes helping write a letter to a long-deceased abuser or mending broken relationships with victims’ adult children, spouses and other family members.

Most often it's just listening to the victims — now in their 60s, 70s, or even 80s — finally speak out after being silenced for so long.

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Singapore Has Taylor Swift to Itself This Week, and the Neighbors Are Complaining

The country is defending paying the pop star to play nowhere else in Southeast Asia. Thailand’s prime minister said the price was up to $3 million per show.

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Taylor Swift sings onstage wearing a silver costume and knee high boots.

By Mike Ives ,  Muktita Suhartono and Camille Elemia

Mike Ives reported from Seoul, Muktita Suhartono from Bangkok and Camille Elemia from Manila

Taylor Swift has descended on Southeast Asia, or one small part of it at least: All of her six sold-out shows are in Singapore, the region’s wealthiest nation.

Many of her fans in this part of the world, which is home to more than 600 million people, are disappointed. But the Singapore leg of Ms. Swift’s wildly popular Eras Tour , which began last weekend and ends on Saturday, is a soft power coup and a boost for the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

The shows — and the undisclosed price that Singapore paid to host them — have also generated diplomatic tension with two of its neighbors, Thailand and the Philippines.

Last month, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand said publicly that Singapore had paid Ms. Swift up to $3 million per show on the condition that she play nowhere else in Southeast Asia. A lawmaker in the Philippines later said that was not “what good neighbors do.”

Singapore pushed back. First its culture minister said the actual value of the exclusivity deal — which he declined to name — was “ nowhere as high .” The country’s former ambassador at large later called the criticism “ sour grapes .” And on Tuesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters that he did not see the deal as diplomatically “unfriendly.”

But that was no solace to dejected fans.

“I sometimes think ‘When will I get to experience this?’” said Sherin Nya Tamara, 26, a Swift fan in Jakarta, Indonesia, who has liked the singer since 2011 but has never seen her perform live. “I was hoping there would be additional dates and that Jakarta would be included, but nope.”

At a time when Southeast Asian governments are dealing with tensions over the South China Sea and the fallout from a brutal war in Myanmar, among other serious issues, the controversy over Ms. Swift’s Singapore shows is “kind of refreshing,” said Susan Harris Rimmer, a law professor who has studied soft power in the region.

“It’s nice to see them arguing about something this fun, I guess, instead of really, deeply difficult things,” added Professor Harris Rimmer, who teaches at Griffith University in Australia. “But it does show there is tension and jealousy and rivalry.”

Ms. Swift’s concerts in Singapore, which follow her stops in Japan and Australia , would have been a big deal anyway. But they took on geopolitical overtones last month, when Mr. Srettha said at a business forum that Singapore had paid the artist as much as $3 million per show in order to guarantee that they would be her only tour stops in Southeast Asia.

Mr. Srettha said that he had learned the details of Singapore’s grant to the artist from the concert promoter, AEG Presents. Representatives for the promoter and for Ms. Swift did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

An exclusivity deal around a concert, a kind of noncompete agreement known as a “radius clause,” is standard practice in the music industry, said Susan Abramovitch, the head of the entertainment and sports law division at the international law firm Gowling WLG.

“That being said, this territorial exclusivity is more typically measured in hundreds of miles from a city rather than covering entire neighboring countries,” she said, adding that the scope of the Singapore deal was a kind of “Taylor-esque magnification” of the industry standard.

It hasn’t been received well outside Singapore.

Late last month, a lawmaker in the Philippines generated headlines by saying that he had asked the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the exclusivity clause with the Singaporean government, saying that it had come at the expense of neighboring countries.

The lawmaker, Rep. Joey Salceda, said this week that he had raised the issue after realizing how difficult and expensive it would be for Filipinos, including members of his own staff, to attend the concerts.

“ASEAN’s core principles are solidarity and consensus,” he said in an interview, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “What happened? They even used their tourism board to block other nations.”

Asked on Tuesday how much the grant was worth, the Singaporean government did not directly address the question. But the Tourism Board and the Culture Ministry said in a joint statement that Ms. Swift’s concerts, for which more than 300,000 tickets had been sold, would likely “generate significant benefits” for the domestic economy.

Prime Minister Lee was also asked about the grant on Tuesday at an ASEAN conference in Australia. He said it had been funded by a post-Covid tourism recovery effort and that he did not see the exclusivity clause as being “unfriendly” to other countries.

“If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to someplace else in Southeast Asia or more places in Southeast Asia?” he said, speaking in Melbourne. “Maybe, maybe not.”

News of the regional backlash to the grant was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal , The Diplomat and other news outlets.

Professor Harris Rimmer said that, financial incentives aside, Singapore is a logical place for Swift to play in Southeast Asia, in part because it is safe for young female fans and has excellent transport links to the rest of the region. She said Ms. Swift’s glamorous mystique also fits nicely with Singapore’s efforts to promote itself as the “glamour kitten of Asia.”

“I don’t think she needs Singapore’s money, at this point,” she added.

Some Swifties have made their peace with the singer’s limited itinerary in their region. Mostly.

Jose Bunachita, 30, a writer in the Philippine city of Cebu, said that he saw Ms. Swift in Japan last month, and that his 11-day trip there had cost around $1,500. “I had the time of my life singing my heart out,” he said.

Still, he said, “I also feel like it would have been more of a fun experience if a majority of the concertgoers had been fellow Filipino Swifties.”

Sui-Lee Wee contributed reporting.

Mike Ives is a reporter for The Times based in Seoul, covering breaking news around the world. More about Mike Ives

Muktita Suhartono reports on Thailand and Indonesia. She is based in Bangkok. More about Muktita Suhartono

Inside the World of Taylor Swift

A Triumph at the Grammys: Taylor Swift made history  by winning her fourth album of the year at the 2024 edition of the awards, an event that saw women take many of the top awards .

‘The T ortured Poets Department’: Poets reacted to Swift’s new album name , weighing in on the pertinent question: What do the tortured poets think ?  

In the Public Eye: The budding romance between Swift and the football player Travis Kelce created a monocultural vortex that reached its apex  at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Ahead of kickoff, we revisited some key moments in their relationship .

Politics (Taylor’s Version): After months of anticipation, Swift made her first foray into the 2024 election for Super Tuesday with a bipartisan message on Instagram . The singer, who some believe has enough influence  to affect the result of the election , has yet to endorse a presidential candidate.

Conspiracy Theories: In recent months, conspiracy theories about Swift and her relationship with Kelce have proliferated , largely driven by supporters of former President Donald Trump . The pop star's fans are shaking them off .

IMAGES

  1. Cathedral of Saint-Gatian in Tours, Cities in France

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  2. Cathedral of Tours, in the Centre-west of France. Stock Image

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  3. Saint Gatien S Cathedral. Tours. France Editorial Image

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  5. Cathedral of Tours, France Photograph by Marcy Wielfaert

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  1. Tours Cathedral

    Tours Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Gatien de Tours) is a Roman Catholic church located in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France, and dedicated to Saint Gatianus.It is the seat of the Archbishops of Tours, the metropolitan cathedral of the Tours ecclesiastical province.It was built between 1170 and 1547. At the time construction began, the church was located at the south end of the bridge over ...

  2. Basilica of Saint Martin, Tours

    The Basilica of St. Martin is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, over whose tomb it was built. It is located in Tours, France. [1] The first basilica was established here in the 5th century (consecrated in 471) on the site of an earlier chapel. [2] It was at first served by a community of monks under an abbot, the ...

  3. The 11 best churches in Tours

    The Cathédrale Saint-Gatien in Tours is a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to Saint Gatien, the first bishop of Tours. The cathedral boasts stunning medieval stained glass and royal tombs, and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries with flying buttresses, gargoyles, twin Renaissance-style towers measuring 70m each, Gothic vaulting, dazzling stained glass windows and a huge baroque organ.

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    11. Eglise Christ Roi. 12. Eglise Du Sacré Coeur. 13. Eglise Saint Avertin. 14. Soeurs Charite Presentati. Tours Churches & Cathedrals: See reviews and photos of 10 churches & cathedrals in Tours, France on Tripadvisor.

  5. BASILICA OF ST. MARTIN OF TOURS

    The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is located close to the old city center of Tours, approximately 120 miles southwest of Paris. It's geographic proximity to and historic connection with Poitiers makes it a perfect combination visit with the Tomb of Hilary of Poitiers. The basilica is open daily from 7:30am-7:00pm. There is no cost of admission.

  6. Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours visitor guide

    A church has stood in this approximate location since the 5th century, after Saint-Martin of Tours died in 397 AD and a small oratory was built over his burial site in 437 AD. By the end of the 5th century a basilica had been built and in the following centuries this was further enlarged. At the beginning of the 9th century the basilica was ...

  7. Tours cathedral : Saint Gatien de Tours

    Tours Saint-Gatien Cathedral. Cathédrale Saint-Gatien de Tours, is dedicated to the first bishop of the city and is a 'must-see' when visiting the Loire Valley. The current cathedral sits on the site of a number of predecessors all of which were damaged by fires. One in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of ...

  8. Basilica of St. Martin

    The Basilique de St-Martin in Tours is a neo-Byzantine basilica on the site of previous churches built in honor of St. Martin, bishop of Tours in the 4th century. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister surviving from the earlier basilica.

  9. Basilica of St. Martin, Tours, France

    Tours, France. The Basilique de St-Martin in Tours is a neo-Byzantine basilica on the site of previous churches built in honor of St. Martin, bishop of Tours in the 4th century. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister surviving from the earlier basilica. St. Martin died in 397 at the age of about 81 in Candes, and his ...

  10. Tours Cathedral

    Tours Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France, and dedicated to Saint Gatianus. It is the seat of the Archbishops of Tours, the metropolitan cathedral of the Tours ecclesiastical province. It was built between 1170 and 1547. At the time construction began, the church was located at the south end of the bridge over the river Loire, on the road from Paris to ...

  11. All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

    You can visit these castles easily because it is not very expensive. This area is a cultural area of France's history. The St Martin's Basilic is very special to visit. The architecture is unique and the site is interesting to discover the history of the city Tours. Indeed, St Martin is an hero of the town of Tours.

  12. Tours, France: Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours

    Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here. The train station is about one-half mile from the Basilica. Address: 7 Rue Baleschoux, 37000 Tours. GPS coordinates: 47° 23′ 34.1844" N, 0° 40′ 58.8504" E. Tel: +33 02 47 05 63 87 Fax: +33 02 47 05 23 51. email: use the contact form on their website. Click here for the official ...

  13. Historical Churches (Self Guided), Tours, France

    It refers to the cathedral of Saint Gatien. The cathedral was dedicated to Saint Gatianus in 1356 but it was the reincarnation of several other churches on the site. The first was dedicated to St. Maurice and built by Bishop Lidorius in 371. Lidorius' church burned in 558 and was rebuilt by Gregory of Tours in 590.

  14. Tours, France: travel and tourism, attractions and sightseeing and

    France This Way review: in Tours you will discover an extensive medieval historic centre, an imposing cathedral and cloisters, modern shopping streets and several other important monuments: together these make the town a very interesting and enjoyable destination to visit. If possible, start your visit with a visit to Tours Tourist office on ...

  15. What to see and do in historic Tours in the ...

    In 2017 a brand new and unique art centre opened, the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré. It is contemporary, innovative and hosts mesmerising exhibitions. And, bringing the old and new together, visit the Atelier d'Ofard, where wallpaper is made by hand to the old methods used in the 17th century.

  16. What To Do in Tours, France (Guide + Map)

    The Church of Saint Julien (Église Saint-Julien de Tours) is a part of a former Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century. Most of the church is in Romanesque style and dates back to the 13th century. Tours Botanical Garden. Founded in 1843, the Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique de Tours) is the oldest city park.

  17. Tours: The ancient renaissance city in the Loire Valley

    The city of Tours is one of the oldest cities in France. Located on the river Loire, it is a beautiful city surrounded by several world-famous châteaux that are within an hours drive. It is within 1 hour of several famous châteaux in the area like Château de Chenonceau, Château Royale d'Amboise, Château de Chaumont, Château de Chambord ...

  18. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tours

    The Archdiocese of Tours (Latin: Archidioecesis Turonensis; French: Archidiocèse de Tours) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France.The archdiocese has roots that go back to the 3rd century, while the formal erection of the diocese dates from the 5th century. The ecclesiastical province of Tours corresponds with the late Roman province of Tertia Lugdunensis.

  19. 10 Best Things To Do In Tours, France

    6. Pay homage to St. Martin at the Basilique Saint Martin. A lovely church built over the tomb of St. Martin of Tours, Basilique Saint Martin has a very long history. The site itself dates back to the 5th century, when the first church was built. It was completely destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793.

  20. The Best Cathedrals and Churches in France

    The largest Romanesque church in France has been an important stop along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela for centuries; today, the Basilique St-Sernin is a UNESCO World Heritage ...

  21. Tours, France The Diocese In Europe Anglican Clergy & Churches

    Search our database of Tours, France Anglican Clergy & Churches specializing in The Diocese In Europe and connect with the best The Diocese In Europe Anglican Clergy & Churches and other Anglican Communion Professionals from Tours, France.

  22. Tours, France Catholic Directory

    Search our Tours, France Catholic Directory database and connect with the best Churchs and other Catholic Directory Professionals in Tours, France. ... and businesses. Our mission "to provide a safe website for parishioners looking to connect with churches and find Mass, ensuring God's grace may touch the heart of every man and of every woman ...

  23. 12 Most Beautiful Churches in France (+Map)

    6. Notre Dame de la Garde. The port city of Marseille is home to the incredible Notre-Dame de la Garde, a cathedral honoring the patron saint of sailors. The Roman Catholic Cathedral was built on the ruins of an ancient fort in the 19th century, and it was created in the Byzantine Revival style.

  24. Who's #1? Ranking the Top 2024 Tour de France Contenders

    Race Days: 14. Race Wins: 4. Best Result: 2nd place, General Classification - Paris-Nice. Next Race: Tour of the Basque Country, April 1-6. Since winning the 2022 Vuelta a España, Evenepoel hasn ...

  25. Amarillo entertainment in brief for March 17, 2024

    First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo invites the public to hear one of the world's acclaimed organists on one of the world's largest organs. The concert will take place on Sunday, April 7 ...

  26. The Manti Utah Temple Is Opening for Public Tours

    Media attended a news conference and tour of the house of the Lord on Monday, March 11, 2024. Those participating in the event included Elder Hugo E. Martinez, General Authority Seventy and First Counselor, Utah Area Presidency; Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt, General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director, Priesthood and Family Department and the Temple Department; and Relief Society ...

  27. Almost 500 victims of church sex abuse in France have received

    France's Catholic bishops' conference agreed to provide reparations after a 2021 report estimated that some 330,000 children were sexually abused for over 70 years by priests or other church ...

  28. Nearly 500 victims of church sex abuse in France have received

    France's Catholic bishops' conference agreed to provide reparations after a 2021 report estimated that some 330,000 children were sexually abused for over 70 years by priests or other church ...

  29. Comment sont accueillis les prêtres étrangers en France

    DÉCRYPTAGE - Chaque année, la conférence des évêques de France demande 2500 visas pour des ecclésiastiques étrangers en France.

  30. Taylor Swift's Singapore Shows Stir Anger in Southeast Asia

    But the Singapore leg of Ms. Swift's wildly popular Eras Tour, which began last weekend and ends on Saturday, is a soft power coup and a boost for the country's post-pandemic economic recovery.