Tours is the historical capital of Touraine and the gateway to the beautiful castles of the Loire Valley. An ancient Gallo-Roman city and once the capital of the kingdom of France, Tours is also referred to as the ‘Garden City of France’. See the main sights of the city of Tours like the Gothic style cathedral of St-Gatien, which has beautiful stained glass windows and an impressive exterior. The Fine Arts Museum is housed in a 17th-18th century archbishop’s palace and has an impressive collection of paintings and furniture. If you feel like a picnic, the botanical gardens are the perfect place to go. The kids would particularly enjoy visiting the petting zoo. Tours is also a great base from which to visit some of the finest chateaux of the Loire Valley, which pandered to every whim and fancy of the French nobility. The whole region of the Loire Valley has in fact been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 16th century Chateau de Chenonceau is a fairy tale castle on the river Cher, complete with formal gardens, moat, drawbridge and towers. From the fortified Langeais to the incredibly beautiful gardens of the Villandry, the chateaux paint a vivid picture of the lives of the nobility. Take a trip to this region and discover the fascinating history of the Loire Valley.
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