Things to see and do Central

248 steps to climb: you have to deserve the panoramic view of the city thanks to the guided tours. In the past, the Charlemagne Tower was located on top of the northern arm of the transept of the medieval collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin. The collegiate church has disappeared, only the clock tower and this one remain. Closed in 1972, it is again open to visitors. The summit (48 metres high) offers a breathtaking view of the old town of Tours, and you can add the option of an aerial visit in summer for an unforgettable moment in the heart of Tours.

The ideal place for history lovers. Pedagogical, playful, inspired, inspiring, this museum is a reference: people come from all over France and even from farther. First of all, there is the building, dating from the 12th century, which already deserves its afternoon. All the rooms are served by an impeccable museography. From the flint of Pressigny to the bronze of more recent extraction (thousand years before our era), a journey in time. Animations for adults and children all year round, with for example a laboratory of scientific manipulations.

Gadawi Park is two tree climbing parks on the outskirts of Tours, one at the Bretonnières lake in Joué-lès-Tours, the other in Tours Nord, in the Grandes-Brosses wood. Two good addresses where vertigo is not an issue! Indeed, it is in the trees that you will evolve, according to the 7 to 9 courses which await you in each park. With harnesses, karabiners and ropes, you can have fun in complete safety, thanks to careful instructors. And there are courses for both children and adults, with various levels of difficulty. Climbing, Tyrolean traverse, monkey bridge... In the trees, many games await you for a day out with family or friends.

... or Place Plum' for the locals. It is one of the emblematic and unavoidable places of Tours during a visit or a festive evening. Located in the heart of the Old City, it is rectangular, paved, on two levels. It is surrounded by half-timbered houses dating from the 15th century and classified as historical monuments.

Plum' beats to the rhythm of tourism and commerce during the day, before becoming the heart of the nightlife. Because what makes it special is the numerous cafés, bars and restaurants located all around. They all spread their terraces in the center, giving the square its famous animation and its great conviviality. So it's no wonder that it's often found on the top steps of Internet podiums of "best places to have an aperitif."

But like many places in the Loire Valley, Place Plumereau also has links with the great History of France. It is notably here that Joan of Arc would have stayed the time to have her armor made and to gather her army to go and deliver the city of Orleans.
The place Plumereau has not always been called like that. It was named after Charles Plumereau, a city councilor, in 1888. At his death, he had bequeathed to the city an annuity intended for secular schools as well as houses located on the square. A place that has known many lives and that was notably an unhealthy parking lot. It is to the mayor Jean Royer that we owe its restoration in the 1960s which led to its current form.

Château de Chenonceau, located in the commune of Chenonceaux in Indre-et-Loire, is one of the jewels of Renaissance architecture in the Loire Valley. With its famous two-storey gallery spanning the Cher River, it is an impressive sight to behold. Built in 1513 by architect Philibert Delorme, the château is currently owned by the Menier family. In addition to a visit to the château, it is possible to combine a visit to Chenonceau with one to other châteaux in the region, such as Chambord or Azay-le-Rideau. Château de Chenonceau is a must-see for lovers of history and architecture.