Top Things to do in Loire Valley
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What to do and see in Loire Valley, Centre-Val de Loire: The Best Architectural Buildings
Old world villages and storybook chateaux bedeck the Loire, once fought over by Gauls, Romans, Visigoths and even Attila the Hun. Rent bikes and roll through the lush valley, visiting fortresses in Amboise and Angers, UNESCO-designated Chartres Cathedral and the Gothic cathedral in Nantes. Musee Jules Vernes houses replicas of inventions designed by the futuristic author. Pay respects to other former residents: the Romans in Tours, the cave dwellers of Touraine, and the liberator of Orleans, Joan of Arc.
Restaurants in Loire Valley
1. Cathedrale Saint-Gatien
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,090 reviews
Reviewed By 590JackK - Lebanon, United States
While there are many sites to behold in the city of Tours, be sure to visit this cathedral. It took four hundred years to build, and was listed as an historic monument in 1862. Everything about it is astonishing to see, from the portals of the facade to the stained glass windows. The two towers each hold something significant in them: the north the royal stairs; the south the cathedral's bells. Aside from other Parisian-style gothic architecture, there are also the tombs of Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne's children, all in the south chapel. There are plentiful cathedrals to visit when visiting this region; I'd make this one of them.
2. La Lanterne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
3. Place Plumereau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,392 reviews
Reviewed By 750dimitrisl - Sydney, Australia
Place Plumereau is a beautiful and rather picturesque area to visit. It is the centre of the old quarters of Tours and it offers some surprising appeal. The architecture of the buildings is rather interesting and many look quite old, but I am not sure how old they would be! The square is full of cafes and restaurants, and it would be easy to just sit at any of them and enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal. However visitors should really be very careful with their choice!
4. L’Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,000 reviews
Founded in 1101 on the intersecting borders of three regions, Anjou, Touraine and Poitou, Fontevraud Abbey is the largest surviving monastic complex from the Middle Ages. At the heart of the Abbey Church, the reclining effigies of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II and Richard the Lionheart are a reminder of its close links with the Plantagenet kings. Converted into a prison between 1804 and 1963, then in 2000 designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Loire Valley, Fontevraud lives and breathes heritage, culture, the art of living and tradition of hospitality, continuing to embody its founder's vision of an "ideal city".
Reviewed By bebsaurus_13 - Paris, France
We visited the monumental and historically fascinating Abbey to start our trip in the Loire Valley and it was a great introduction to the region. The building, having survived many tumultous periods and some massive transformations (including its stint as a prison for nearly 100 years), has been beautifully restored and looks gorgeous. There are clear and interesting explanations in each room, and several interactive screens that told more precise stories related to the Abbey - such as Alineor of Aquitaine's history - that kept our visit moving and also provided a lot of context for the other sites we visited later in our trip. Furthermore, there are a number of temporary exhibits in some of the Abbey rooms that were excellent. I especially appreciated the exhibit on modern church windows, and the curious but mesmerising light installation in the great hall. The grounds are also quite nice to visit, but the rain put us off from spending too much time there. This is a wonderful site and is really worth the stop.
5. Notre Dame de Rigny
6. Monument Memorial Americain
7. Prieure Saint-Cosme - Demeure de Ronsard
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 163 reviews
Saint Cosme Priory was, according to the canons of the 12th century, "a heaven on earth that eased the journey to the real heaven," less than an hour's walk from Tours. The long history of this monastery, now property of Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council, came to fame after major archaeological excavations carried out in 2009-2010. It is better known as the “Demeure de Ronsard” (home of Ronsard), who was the prior here from 1565 to 1585. His home has been carefully preserved. The poet eventually died here and was buried in the old church. New gardens and an interactive scenic tour were recently set up to restore its historical, spiritual and poetic atmosphere.
8. Cloister of la Psalette
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 136 reviews
The Cloître de la Psalette, which means choir cloister, was given this name as one of its rooms was used for practising religious chant in the Middle Ages. The architecture of the cloister which adjoins to the Cathedral of Tours is made up of three galleries built partly in the Flamboyant style and partly in the Renaissance style, of the scriptorium, the old bookshop and of the Renaissance staircase. Open: > 8th September to 31st March: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. > 1st April to 3rd May: from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. > 4th May to 31st August: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission 15 minutes before closing time. Closed: > 1st October to 31st March: Monday and Tuesday. > Sunday morning. > 1st January, 1st May and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 3 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 2,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
9. Gare de Tours
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 178 reviews
Reviewed By Nitvoyodelo - Vineland, United States
We arrived in Tours to this beautiful train station, built in 1898, and designed by the architect Victor Laloux, whose work includes the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, the Hotel de Ville here in town, and the Paris Gare d'Orsay, a former train station, now Musee d'Orsay. . . The walls inside the station have tile paintings of nearby towns. Do stop to examine them, it's a pleasant way to pass the time while waiting for the train. . .
10. Vinci - Centre International de Congres
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