Tourist Attractions & Monuments dans les Châteaux de la Loire

Of the great forests of Anjou, only a few are left, of which the forest of Chandelais is the most important. In the 15th century, King René used it for hunting, close to his residence in Baugé. Nowadays, the most remarkable trees of Anjou can be found there, oak and beech trees, as well as about fifty species of mushrooms. This 2,000-hectare forest offers numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails: 80 kilometers in total!

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.

This historic site is made up of two distinct parts only a few dozen metres apart: a castle and a hospital with a magnificent apothecary. The first was, in the 15th century, the hunting lodge of King René who had it built on the ruins of the 11th century. Enter the place of pleasure of the Good King and meet the various characters who have marked the history of this domain and the region. A projection, followed by a show, presents chivalry and courtly love as practiced by the members of the Anjou dynasty. King René's bedroom, the star room of the visit, has been reconstructed from period documents.

As for the Hôtel-Dieu, it refers to the exceptional 17th century hospital complex, which was in operation until 2001. Note that it is only accessible with a guide. Through the exhibition in the large sick room, you will learn more about medicine at the time of Louis XIV. The visit ends with a visit to the admirable apothecary: 650 jars, flasks and other containers welcome you to this pharmacy dating from 1675, still filled with the products of yesteryear and a true testimony to a crucial period in the development of medicine. Don't miss the baroque chapel with its double choir, as well as part of the conventual buildings. To make the most of these places, theatrical tours rich in twists and turns are regularly scheduled.

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.