Tours has two main train stations: Tours centre-ville, opposite the Centre International de Congrés Vinci, and Saint Pierre des Corps.
Eurostar
trains between Ebbsfleet International and Tours have average journey times of 5 hours, 20 minutes, making it one of the fastest and easiest ways for tourists to access Tours. The route passes through Lille, Paris, then change through Les Aubrais, Orleans and St Pierre des Corps. The most popular time to visit is in winter and spring as tourists can book tickets, then find it less expensive than other seasons.
Tours is the capital of the Indre-et-Loire region and is located in central France- it is judged to be the largest city in the Loire Valley with a population of 136,942 (2006.) More people have moved to this area recently as Paris is under an hour away via the TGV. It is called "Le Jardin de la France" ("The Garden of France") and is well-known for its historical values and preserved heritage and original medieval district.
Tours is most popular for the Tour de France, which is a cycling race event with participants covering a total distance of 3,600 kilometres. Tour de France comprises of 1 prologue and 20 stages and will cover from Saturday July 3rd to Sunday July 25th 2010, the 97th annual event. Tours is a lively and enjoyable place to spend an evening as the streets and bars are filled with both locals, the large student population and tourists.
Points of interest
The Cathedrale St-Gatien
A gothic style Catholic church originally dedicated to Saint Gatien and built about 1170 to replace the cathedral that was destroyed in 1166, during the dispute between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. It contains the tombs of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII and is decorated with stained glass of the choir and the three rosaries.
Museé des Beaux-Arts
The former Archbishop's Palace in Tours is home to its Musée des Beaux-Arts, considered one of the best provincial museums in France for its diverse and varied collections, from additions from the great houses of Touraine during the Revolution to modern and contemporary art.
Centre International de Congrés Vinci
Also simply known as the "da Vinci", it is the International Convention Centre for Tours and has three auditoriums. It is famous for its towers.
Attractions
Rue Nationale is the main street, giving a traditional look to the city.
Parc des expositions de Tours
Place Plumerau is the best area of Tours for nightlife including clubs, bars and authentic Irish pubs.
La Rochelle Main Attractions - La Rochelle Main Attractions
Hotel De Ville
The Hotel de Ville is a 14th century gothic style must-see attraction. Within the tour you will see many Henry II staircases and the marble desk of Jean Guiton. The ancient building houses many of La Rochelle?s pieces of history.... La Rochelle, France
Musee Des Modeles Reduits
This is a one-of-a-kind museum that features 8000 square feet of exhibits that are presented in such manners as moving model trains, computer animated naval battles, and historic scenes. During a certain time of the year they allow the children to ride the train, the museum is great and has fun for all ages.... La Rochelle, France
Parc Charruyer
The Parc Charruyer is a park that was designed somewhere between 1887 and 1890. The park was built from the legacy of mademoiselle Adele Charruyer. The park encompasses a beautiful 98 acres and has a walkway that is about 2 kilometers long. Starting in 1945 they added a small animal zoo. You can take a nice stroll along the path and see rare plants, little waterways, and ducks for the children to feed.... La Rochelle, France
The Aquarium
The aquarium is one of the most popular tourist attractions in La Rochelle. This exhibit takes visitors on a two hour long journey into the depths of the seas. They have exhibits for the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic, and the tropics. The presentation is amazing, it is held in a tank of water which contains about 3 million liters. Visitors are influenced to dive into the action of about 12000 living underwater species and learn about them.... La Rochelle, France
Tour Saint Nicolas, de la Lanterne and de la Chaine
These are three defensive towers within the city of La Rochelle that were used to guard the harbor. This tower is must see because it dates back to medieval times. The tower requires visitors to climb many stairs, it is important to wear comfortable shoes and be prepared.... La Rochelle, France