Advice

Just a quick interruption in your tour to fill you in on some other cool stuff you might wanna check out. If you're craving some greenery smack dab in the middle of the Loire, head on over to Île Simon, reachable via Napoleon Bridge. This scenic park offers killer views of the Loire River and spaces for sports or just chilling out. If you're a museum lover, Tours has some top-notch museums. The Compagnonnage Museum we mentioned earlier is a must-see. And if contemporary art is more your thing, swing by the Olivier Debré Contemporary Creation Center – it's a real hub for artistic experimentation and showcasing. For a tasty exploration of the region's flavors, don't miss a trip to the Covered Market. It's the perfect spot to snag local goodies like the famous Sainte-Maure goat cheese, Tours rillettes, or dive into Loire Valley wines.Tours, nestled in the Val de Loire, is the perfect launching pad for checking out some of the Loire Valley's castles. If you only see one near Tours, make it Chenonceau castle. Just 30km away, it's the second most visited castle in France after Versailles. Known as the "Ladies' Castle" for the influential women who lived there, such as Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers, it's the epitome of Renaissance elegance. And those arches spanning the Cher River give it an unmistakable silhouette. Don't hesitate to explore it by water, hop on a canoe or boat for a unique perspective. Less than 20km west of Tours, you can visit Villandry castle and its famous gardens. And 30 minutes to the east, you've got access to the magnificent Amboise castle, and Château du Clos Lucé, known for its museum on Leonardo da Vinci, housed in the artist's former home. You can even hit up the Mini- castle Park and see all the Val de Loire sites in a single day! Well, with all this, you've got plenty of things to do, if you feel like staying in the area for a while.