Visit the Heritage Town of Tours
Tours is the largest city in France’s Centre-Val de Loire region. It is located on the lower areas of the River Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Tours is situated in an extraordinarily rich heritage area with castles, vineyards, and medieval centre. Numerous attractions are to be seen in this city – from cathedrals, museums, wine houses, parks, gardens, and shopping areas. However, Tours is famous for its quiet atmosphere and topnotch cultural heritage, and it is also the endpoint of the yearly Paris-Tours bicycle racing.
Must-see places in Tours
Travelling on the road is the best option if you want to see many of the tourist spots and destinations in the city. There is so much to see and time can be your biggest constraint if you decide to ride commuter vehicles. However, if you decide to rent a motor home for this trip you can be sure to cover more ground and see more of this gorgeous city.
Here are some of the best places you can go to…
The prestige of Loire Valley extends to the stunning chateaus within the area. Make sure to visit Amboise, Langeais, Azay-le -Rideau, Chanonceau chateau, Villandry and Chinon chateau, among many others.
The medieval district of le Viewx Tours is one of the famous tourist spots in the city. For a unique feel of the old town, visit la Place Plumereau which is a square with bustling restaurants and pubs where people can dine al fresco. Shoppers will also enjoy the weekly markets and fairs at the Place Jean-Jaures.
The Tours-sur-Loire guinguette cafe operates during April to end of September. It is strategically situated over the docks in the town centre where the atmosphere provides a different vibe in the Loire. There’s music, dancing, food, drinks, and outdoor cinema. It is a great place for meeting people, for relaxing and unwinding after a busy day.
The numerous bridges crossing the river Loire are quite famous in Tours. The Pont Wilson is one of them which collapsed in 1978 and rebuilt again.
The garden of Palais des Archevêques, now Musée des Beaux-Arts, is home to a huge cedar tree planted by Napoleon Bonaparte. The garden also has an alcove which is home to Fritz, a stuffed elephant which used to be a part of the Barnum and Bailey circus in 1902. He had to be put down because of bad behaviour when he escaped.
The Université François Rabelais is the venue for the most important choral competitions, the Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choir Competition. It is also a member city of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing.
For those who love shopping for food and delicacies, the covered markets of Tours is a haven for the senses. There are different types of cheeses, meats, wine, oysters, spices, and deli products, among others. These are high quality products sold in more than 50 stalls or so. The best time to visit is on weekends, so prepare your taste buds and shopping bags.
Where to park your campervan for the night
Campsites within the Loire Valley area are available. They provide pitches and facilities for RV campers who would like to stay for the night. These are mostly situated in parks or within a chateau area. Offerings may vary, but you can check with their campsite management first before reserving. Basic or standard facilities such as electric hook-ups, bathrooms, and playgrounds are common especially for touristy locations such as Loire.
You can choose to stay and park your motor home either at Camping Parc de Fierbois, Château de la Rolandière, Campings les Coteaux du Lac, Camping Loire et Châteaux, L’Arada Parc, or Parc des Allais. The main thing to remember when traveling in Tours is to visit as much locations as you can during the day, then rest and unwind during the night.