My Sunday Bench — Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tours.

Just beyond the cathedral, the gardens of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours offer one of the city's most peaceful places to sit. With clipped hedges, mature trees and the former Archbishop's Palace as a backdrop, it's a Sunday bench with a distinctly elegant setting.

Anecdote: The museum occupies the former Palais des Archevêques , a residence that became one of the grandest in Touraine. Its formal gardens remain open to visitors, providing a quiet retreat just a few steps from the busy streets of central Tours.

“On Sundays, Touraine speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

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Part of the “My Sunday Bench” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

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Seeking out the shade...at Place Plumereau.

Place Plumereau.

With a bit of cloud cover tomorrow you may not need the umbrellas but Sunday is a different matter! 

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.

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© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

Taken in Touraine in 'le vieux quartier de Tours'.

This half-timbered building, now home to the restaurant Léonard de Vinci, stands at the intersection of Rue de la Monnaie and Rue des Orfèvres in the old quarter of Tours. Its timber frame and brick infill are a reminder of the medieval streetscape that still survives in this part of the city.

Le vieux quartier de Tours: Rue de la Monnaie takes its name from the mint once established nearby, while Rue des Orfèvres recalls the goldsmiths who worked in the area. Together, the street names preserve the memory of the trades that shaped medieval Tours.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

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© Experience Loire — Taken in Tou raine · Back to Home 

Two pieces of history for the price of one in Tours.

The striking stone tower on the right is the Tour Charlemagne (Tower of Charlemagne), a rare surviving remnant of the original medieval Basilica of Saint Martin. Legend links it to Emperor Charlemagne: his wife Liutgard (or sometimes referred to as Hildegard) died in Tours around 800 AD while accompanying him, and tradition holds she was buried near or beneath this tower.

Though the grand Romanesque basilica was largely destroyed during the French Revolution, this 48-metre-high tower endured and was later restored. Today it stands in powerful contrast beside the 19th/20th-century neo-Byzantine basilica (with its prominent dome) rebuilt over the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, one of France’s most important pilgrimage sites.

A small quiet street in Tours with a big sense of history.

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Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Exploring the towns and villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

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Change is coming...have a good weekend!

Place Plumereau in Tours.

After the spell of very hot weather here in the Loire Valley temperatures are to return to what's considered normal for this time of year overnight on Saturday.

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

The old quarter of Tours...

Stepping into Rue du Grand Marché in Tours feels like walking straight into a postcard of medieval France.

The striking half-timbered houses with their dark wooden beams and warm brick patterns rise on both sides, creating that classic Loire Valley charm. Outdoor café terraces spill onto the cobblestones, and the bright blue sky with fluffy clouds adds the perfect touch of spring light.

This lively yet historic street in the heart of Tours is one of those places where you can easily spend hours wandering, photographing details, and soaking up the atmosphere.

Personal tip: Come early in the morning or late afternoon when the light plays beautifully on the facades and the terraces start filling up.

Have you explored the old streets of Tours yet?

“Every town and village in Centre-Val de Loire tells its story gently — in rooftops, stonework and narrow streets.”

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Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Each Tuesday, we visit one of the Loire Valley's towns or villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

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© Experience Loire — Towns & Villages of the Loire · Back to Home 

 

Bon week-end à tous, have a good weekend everyone - Hôtel de Ville, Tours.

With its elegant Beaux-Arts façade, ornate clock tower, and the lively fountain dancing in front, this beautiful town hall captures the refined charm that makes the Loire Valley region so special.

Whether you're strolling the wide square, admiring the sculpted details, or simply soaking in the lively yet peaceful atmosphere, it's the perfect spot to pause and wish everyone a wonderful weekend ahead.

Wishing you a restful, inspiring couple of days filled with light, laughter, and maybe a little Loire magic!

Tip : The square in front is lovely for people-watching and photos, especially when the fountain is playing.

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

Happy Easter...Joyeuses Pâques.

 

Tours Saint-Gatien Cathedral

Bon week-end à tous...A visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours?

Housed in the former bishop's palace beside Tours Cathedral , the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours showcases art from antiquity to the present day. Beyond its collections, it's known for its formal garden, its famous stuffed elephant Fritz, and a remarkable listed Lebanese cedar. The building has been protected as a historic monument since 1983.

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Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

Wednesday for Windows: A listed medieval treasure in Tours

Today's spotlight: the upper gable of 57 rue du Grand-Marché in the historic heart of Tours , a 15th-century timber-framed house officially a 'Monument Historique' (protected for its facades and roof).

The star is the arched dormer window crowning the steep gable—framed by black slate tiles laid in a classic fish-scale pattern, with half-timbered (pans de bois) stripes in dark tones. Red curtains glow softly behind the small-paned glass, adding warmth to the weathered slate cladding. This style is signature Touraine medieval architecture: slate (often from nearby quarries) for fire resistance and longevity, combined with overhanging timber framing for extra space in narrow streets.

Preserved in the protected sector around Place Plumereau, this house exemplifies how Tours windows and roofs blend practicality with quiet elegance, protruding upper stories, small openings for light, and that dramatic gable silhouette against the sky.

• Right in the lively rue du Grand-Marché, steps from Place Plumereau cafés and the old market square.
• Nearby gems: Cathédrale Saint-Gatien (Gothic masterpiece), Basilique Saint-Martin crypt, or Rue Colbert's half-timbered row.
• Easy access: Tours train station or tram A (Hôtel de Ville stop).

Paris may have its Haussmann grandeur, but Tours windows whisper older, more intimate secrets, textured, protected, full of character. What's your favorite historic facade detail in the Loire?

Bon mercredi ! 🇫🇷

 

“Through every window, the Loire breathes — calm, patient, and quietly luminous.”

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Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

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Thursday's taken in Touraine…Gare de Tours.

As evening settles over Tours, the Gare de Tours comes alive in a soft glow. The grand glass roof of the 1898 station catches the last light of day, while the deep blue sky above creates a striking backdrop for its ornate stone facade and statues.

Travelers move across the forecourt, some heading to trains for Paris, others arriving with suitcases rolling and voices carrying under the canopy. The warm interior lights spill out through the arches, inviting one last look at the architecture before night fully arrives. A classic Touraine moment: the meeting point of history and everyday journeys, where the past grandeur of the railway age meets the present life of the Loire Valley.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

 Discover more about the Loire Valley
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© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home 

Thursday's 'taken in Touraine' - Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé.

In the gentle heart of Tours, this Bühler-crafted haven (1874) unfolds like a secret: trees veil the curving pond, ducks trace lazy paths on mirrored water. A more formal urban city glimpses through the leaves, pure, unhurried Touraine magic.

A 'Jardin Remarquable' born from old marshlands, it still feels like a private escape amid the city's hum. Busy benches yet endless calm.

Your favorite quiet corner in the Loire? 🌿🦆

You can view a spring walk in the gardens here.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

 Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Windows and balconies - the Grand Hotel in Tours

The Grand Hôtel de Tours occupies one of the most visible corners in the city, facing place de la Gare and welcoming arrivals with a façade designed to impress. Built to signal comfort and status to travellers, it combines classical proportions with subtle Art Deco features most notably the gilded details crowning the corner bay.

The stacked balconies create a vertical procession of windows, each offering a slightly different view over the station square, while the curved rooftop pavilion gives the whole building a sense of theatre, as if the architecture itself were part of the journey.

It is a reminder of a time when hotels were not just places to sleep, but symbols of movement, modernity and social life, anchoring the railway in the everyday fabric of the city rather than standing apart from it. 

Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

See more from Experience Loire

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Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Tours.

Set on Place Jean Jaurès in Tours, this simple bench sits in front of a small, carefully kept square framed by clipped shrubs, seasonal flowers, and young evergreens. Behind it rises a grand 19th-century façade with arched arcades and tall windows, giving the scene a calm, civic elegance rather than a park-like feel.

It is a place made for pausing, where the formal lines of the architecture meet the softer order of the gardens, inviting a quiet moment in the centre of the city.

 

“On Sundays, the Loire speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

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Part of the “Mon banc dominical” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

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On the Streets of Touraine - Rue de la Rôtisserie in Tours.

Tucked in the heart of Vieux Tours, Rue de la Rôtisserie is a charming street in a quiet stretch of Tours where the medieval street plan still guides your steps, the city’s past feels close enough to touch and still whispers its delicious past.

Its name apparently comes straight from the medieval rotisseries that once lined it as part of a bustling poultry market, you imagine the irresistible aroma of spit-roasted poultry wafting through the air!

Even today, the street feels like a living slice of history with its cozy restaurants and preserved facades.

Close by Place Plumereau invites you to linger with a coffee or a glass of wine amid the half-timbered surrounding houses.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of Touraine” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

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Taken in Touraine - Tour Charlemagne in Tours.

Rising above the old town, the Tour Charlemagne in Tours is a striking remnant of the former medieval collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin. Its massive stone structure and Romanesque arches dominate the skyline, a powerful reminder of the city’s medieval past and the enduring presence of history in the heart of Touraine.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

On the Streets of Touraine - Rue de la Monnaie,Tours

Rue de la Monnaie in Tours narrows gently as it winds through the old town, its cobbled surface and tightly packed façades reflecting centuries of everyday passage. Stone, timber and pale tuffeau sit side by side, creating a street that feels lived in rather than preserved.

This is a part of Tours best explored slowly. Shop signs hang close to the walls, bicycles rest against doorways and voices soften as the street bends out of sight. It is a reminder that Touraine’s character is often found not in grand views, but in these quieter streets where history and daily life continue to meet.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end from Tours

Place Plumereau is rarely empty, but there are moments when it feels as if the square pauses between breaths. Chairs are lined up, terraces waiting, timbered façades catching the light as if they’ve done this many times before. In the heart of Tours, this is where conversations gather, where coffee cools slowly, and where the Loire Valley shows its most sociable side. A place made for lingering, even before

“In the Loire, the weekend begins with light — and ends with gratitude.”

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Part of the “Bon week-end from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, one beautiful weekend at a time.

 Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Bon week-end from the Loire · Back to Home

Streets of TourainePlace de la Résistance, Tours,dressed for Christmas.

Place de la Résistance sits at the heart of Tours, a broad civic square framed by orderly façades and everyday movement. During the Christmas period, the space is transformed by a large decorated tree and a ring of wooden market stalls, adding colour and warmth to a setting usually defined by routine. It remains a place of passage and meeting, where seasonal decoration briefly reshapes the character of the street life around it.

“Even dressed for celebration, the square keeps its quiet sense of belonging.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes, squares, and everyday streets of Loire towns and cities, where local life quietly unfolds.

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© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Touraine · Back to Home