Tourist Attractions & Monuments dans les Châteaux de la Loire

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.

A glass roof in place of the collapsed roof of an old church is an original idea to highlight the works of a sculptor from Angers, whose most famous works are far from his native town. You will see some preparatory drawings, statues, busts and medallions because, as you may have guessed, this was the speciality of David, known as d'Angers (not to be confused with the painter Jacques-Louis David, with whom he also trained). Most people know this artist thanks to the many streets that bear his name, but we often ignore his art. The sculptures of David d'Angers, which were generally commissioned, are to be found in the Espace Européen Gutenberg in Strasbourg as well as on the pediment of the Panthéon and in Père-Lachaise. In the former Toussaint abbey church, the plaster moulds of his works are on display, which he sent en masse to the Beaux-Arts of Angers in order to thank the city for having granted him a scholarship to study in Paris and then in Italy. The busts made by the sculptor are arranged on a mezzanine from which one can admire both the works as a whole and the elegance of the place, which would certainly have pleased this artist who himself nourished the architectural heritage by contributing to the Concorde bridge in Paris. This museum is out of the ordinary while reflecting a certain classicism, in the image of the artist that David d'Angers was, singular and yet admired by the Academy.

If the place Plumereau is the heart of the city of Tours, the place Jean Jaurès is the nerve centre. This is the ideal landmark in the city: indeed, the two arteries that are Béranger Boulevard and the Heurteloup boulevard intersect here perpendicular, cut Tours in four well defined areas. The square is dominated by the Hotel de Ville, a magnificent monument designed by the tourangeau architect Victor Laloux at the hinge of the th and th centuries. It also houses the Palace of justice, built in 1843 in a Louis Philippe style, without forgetting the two majestic fountains, which are different over the seasons by playing light and landscaping of the best taste. However, when the square was created in 1745, it was named after the Gates of Iron and marked the southern boundary of the fortifications. What the city has grown up!

In its forest, on the edge of the water plan, this small commune houses a workshop to manufacture statues of lead known worldwide by the collectors! For two centuries, the same specific gestures… founded in 1785 in Paris and installed since 1994 in Anjou, the workshop has been perpetuating the great tradition of lead soldiers for more than two hundred years. Each figurine is always cast, mounted and carefully painted according to ancestral processes.

This 112-hectare park is a haven of peace for joggers with its 4, 5 or 8 km of paths around the Saint-Nicolas pond, but also a superb playground and discovery area for children, with its toy boat basin, its pedal carts and its animal enclosures. Come and (re) discover this pleasant park for a stroll, a picnic, to enjoy the refreshment bar in good weather, or why not for a little ride on the merry-go-round for young and old alike.

Located a few meters from the banks of the Maine River, this museum is composed of two very distinct places. On the one hand, the Saint-Jean Hospital, in its magnificent 12th century room, houses Le Chant du monde, a masterpiece by Jean Lurçat. These ten panels, 80 metres long, are inspired by the famous tapestry of the Apocalypse by John of Bruges. The part known as the former orphanage dates from the 17th century and houses some sixty works exhibited chronologically, mixing temporary works and the museum's own collection (Jean Lurçat, Josep Grau-Garriga and Thomas Gleb).

Founded in 1801, the Beaux-Arts are housed in several buildings in the historic centre, including a magnificent 15th-century town house, the Logis Barrault, in the flamboyant Gothic style. Covering 3,000 m², the museum has two sections: one devoted to sculpture and painting (particularly primitive and classical), the other to the history of Angers (objects from archaeological excavations). It also includes a graphic arts room and a garden decorated with statues which, in the 20th century, replaced the orchard where the famous Doyenné du Comice pear was invented.

It does not invent! The museum recounts 130 years of artisanal and industrial history dedicated to the manufacture of this essential accessory that revolutionized the choletaise industry. He occupies an old factory and bears witness to a concept that has hit: install factories in the countryside! From the factory to the museum, there was only one step, which he invites you to pass in turn and you will not regret it. Videos and demonstrations organized the visit where unusual unusual models, tools and machines are available.

Characterized by its flat chevet, this church is under the patronage of Sainte Madeleine, represented seven times in this remarkable stained glass program. The majority was carried out by the Lobin workshop of Tours - between 1860 and 1878. This ensemble presents a large unit of style. The number of glass panes and stained glass windows is quite considerable and, of course, everyone has a history. Visit this church with the President of the Association of Friends of the Church of Sainte-Madeleine: specialist in religious heritage, he makes this walk between alcoves and chapels absolutely exciting! He décryptera every window, including the one so called "Japanese", which is deemed to be unparalleled so far, but also mural paintings, including an ex-voto reminiscent of an epidemic of plague. In one of the chapels, a burial urn contains the heart of the painter Anne-Louis Girodet (to whom the city also devoted a museum, currently in work), while the great christ is the model carved by Triqueti, for his christ of the Invalides. The spire of the bell was restored by a pupil of Violet the Duke. The church has undergone an important internal and external work campaign to bring it back to its ancient splendour.