Tours is a city in France, the capital city of the Indre-et-Loire département, on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines and for the perfection of its local spoken French. It is also the site of the cycling race Paris-Tours.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Population: 130,000
• City flourished in Late Middle Ages
• In front of the cathedral in the city of Tours, is a huge cedar tree planted by Napoleon himself
• Tours served as seat of French government fleeing German advance in 1870 and 1940

SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS

• Tours is famous for its old part of the city called Le Vieux Tours with medieval style houses in half-timbering and Place Plumereau, a square with pubs and restaurants full of people who dine and drink outside at tables filling the center of the square
• Gothic Saint-Gatien Cathedral (features flying buttresses, medieval stained-glass windows, and cloister)
• Rue Nationale
• Museums of fine arts, archeology, craftsman's guilds, stained glass (gemmail), and other themes