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.
Moutiers Main Attractions - Moutiers Main Attractions
Former Bishops House
The former bishop?s house today is home to the tourist office, the Municipal Library, the museum of Popular Traditions, the Academy of Val d?Isere, its museum and library. The building was rebuilt in the early 17th century, and today you can still admire decorations from the 18th century in certain areas of the building.... Moutiers, France
Moutiers History and Archaeology Museum
This is a five-room museum that explains Moutiers history from an archaeological standpoint beginning from the prehistoric times and continuing through the late 19th century. The museum was created in 1865 to help research the history of the valley. The museum helped the creators to collect and present information to the public.... Moutiers, France
Museum of Popular Traditions
The museum of popular traditions is a must-see attraction that helps give visitors a view into Moutiers past. You will learn about everyday life of a resident including farm, home, and school life. This museum was recently awarded with being affective in teaching children ancient traditions in a fun way.... Moutiers, France
St Peters Cathedral
This site has been a religious site since the 5th century when it was occupied with a building belonging to the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre. The present-day building was constructed by masons from the Lombard region and it reflects Roman Art in its masonry. Inside you will find a beautiful statue that dates from the 16th century.... Moutiers, France