The Tours municipal library

Tours municipal library

Comfortably set facing the Loire, the fine building of the municipal library is a stop on the Tours audio-guided tour. Its remarkable architecture and history have earned it a listing as a historic monument.

Reborn after the flames

Tours had an old library whose collection came mainly from Revolutionary seizures. It was destroyed in 1940, swept away by a fire started by shellfire. The historic collections went up in smoke, but a few precious documents and incunabula were saved. An incunabulum is a work printed before 1501, that is, before movable-type printing.

What to see

The reconstruction of the district was entrusted to the architect Pierre Patout, a leading figure of the interwar style, who designed the new library. Notice its elegant lines, turned towards the river, making it a fine example of twentieth-century architecture in Tours.

Practical information

The municipal library is located facing the Loire, in the centre of Tours. Opening days and times should be checked depending on the season with the institution.

Why did the old library disappear ?

It was destroyed by a fire in 1940; a few incunabula and precious documents were nonetheless saved.

Who designed the present building ?

The architect Pierre Patout, one of the great names of the interwar style.