Musée des Beaux-Arts in Tours

Close to the hotel and the station

With its beautiful traditional French garden, its protected cedar of Lebanon and its magnificent building, the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum) is worth seeing both inside and outside. In the former archbishop's palace of Tours located between the city’s château and station and 5 minutes on foot from the hotel, the museum houses an impressive collection of paintings. As you walk through its different rooms, admire works by Early Renaissance Italian painters (e.g. Andrea Mantegna, Paolo di Giovanni), Dutch and Flemish masters (e.g. Rubens, Rembrandt) and 19th century French artists (e.g. Ingres, Delacroix, Degas, Monet).

You’ll also be able to discover its wonderful collection of sculptures, featuring numerous Ancient Greek and Roman masterpieces as well as more modern statues by the likes of Jean-Antoine Houdon and Auguste Rodin. If you’re visiting as a family, the museum also has a special activity trail for children, which will allow them to do such fun things as creating a still life in 3D, building a puzzle and dressing up in front of a backdrop.

Tourism in Tours

A member of the “Cités de la Gastronomie” network, listed as a protected “City of Art and History” and the gateway to the Loire Valley with its regal fairytale castles, Tours is a place to enjoy a gentle way of life surrounded by outstanding cultural heritage.

Château de Tours

On the shady banks of the Loire, the Château de Tours features remnants from across its history. What remains of the original fortress built in the 13th century is the Tour de Guise, a regal turret from which the castle’s residents could attack invaders.

Botanical garden

Between the Loire and Cher, the botanic garden is a lovely place to visit. On the south side, visit the arboretum where its range of beautiful, fragrant trees have made it an outstanding garden. There is also a petting zoo accessible to the public.

Saint Gatien Cathedral

From its 13th century choir area to its façade of the 15th and 16th centuries, the city’s cathedral illustrates the evolution of Gothic architecture, but its crowning glory are its two Renaissance-era towers.

Place Plumereau

A pedestrian zone, this square is surrounded by beautiful 15th century timber-framed houses that alternate with stone buildings. On sunny days, take a seat at one of the café and restaurant terraces to watch the world go by.

Old Tours

Restored in the 1970s, Old Tours, centred around Place Plumereau, is an unmissable destination just a stone’s throw from the banks of the Loire. Wander down its ever-lively, traditional winding streets with its bustling shops.

Conference Centre

The Vinci International Conference Centre, designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, hosts countless concerts, dance shows, plays and musicals each year. As the name suggests, its large auditoriums also host business meetings.