Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours

Victoria food tours

You won't have to worry about outdated recommendations or missing out on seasonal highlights. Learn more about Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours here Summer brings with it the warmth and the extended daylight hours, perfect for exploring the hidden gems of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours. You'll wander through secret gardens nestled in the heart of the city, where the tranquility contrasts sharply with the urban buzz. Each tour is led by expert guides who'll share fascinating insights about the constellations, planets, and celestial phenomena you'll observe. These hidden gems within Butchart Gardens are reserved for guests like you, who seek a deeper connection with nature and a more personal experience.
You'll find the city's waterfront alive with activity, offering something for everyone. Each experience is a doorway to understanding the heart and soul of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours, making your visit unforgettable. Star Sightseeing guides you to the best spots, ensuring you don't miss the cherry blossoms at their peak. Don't forget to check out our special offers section for any discounts or deals that might be available.
You'll dive deep into the history and traditions of each location, guided by experts passionate about their heritage. You'll receive an immediate email confirmation with all the details of your booking, including the meeting point, what to bring, and how to prepare for the day. Recognizing that every traveler's interests and preferences are unique, many of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's sightseeing tours offer customizable experiences tailored to your desires. Lean more about Best Sightseeing Tour Company in Victoria BC here. Whether it's catching a live performance at an intimate venue or joining in the celebration at one of the many festivals, you're not just watching; you're part of the experience. Victoria day trips
Having explored the natural wonders of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours, it's now time to immerse yourself in the rich cultural experiences that await. Star Sightseeing Tours takes you beyond the surface, introducing you to locales that encapsulate the true essence of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours. Next, you'll venture through the Dandenong Ranges. The tours offer more than just a view; they include interactive sessions on celestial navigation and the cultural significance of constellations across different civilizations.

Not just any tourist can wander into these hidden gems. Imagine savoring a meal where every bite encapsulates the essence of the region's soil and sea, connecting you to the land in the most delicious way possible. Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's historic landmarks offer a unique glimpse into the city's past, inviting you to step back in time and explore its rich heritage. Each bite not only delights the senses but also connects you to the region's diverse ecosystems and agricultural heritage.

Come summer, the focus shifts to the coastline with its sparkling beaches and lively markets.

Victoria summer sightseeing

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  14. Victoria festival experience tours
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By choosing these guided tours, you're not just seeing Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours; you're making a conscious decision to help protect it for future generations. Moreover, these tours aren't just about gazing upwards; they're immersive experiences.

Victoria sightseeing with kids

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Don't forget to check out the special packages for groups or those seeking a more personalized experience. This is where unforgettable memories are made, under the vast, star-lit sky, blending the best of both worlds. Your guide, well-versed in the city's lore, points out architectural marvels hidden in plain sight, shares tales of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's vibrant past, and reveals the significance behind seemingly ordinary spots.

You'll find it pulsing in the vibrant street art that adorns hidden laneways, the eclectic galleries showcasing local talent, and the live performances that breathe life into the city's night. The staff's friendliness adds to the experience, ready with a smile to share stories or offer directions to hidden gems within the gardens. As you've undoubtedly noticed, Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's allure has escalated, captivating a global audience eager for its unique blend of cultural, natural, and architectural marvels.

Top-Rated Tour Operators Victoria

Known as "the Garden City", Victoria is an attractive city and a popular tourism destination and has a regional technology sector that has risen to be its largest revenue-generating private industry. In 2019, Victoria was in the top 20 world cities for quality of life, according to Numbeo.

Citations and other links

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Group Tour Operators

Every aspect of your tour is customizable, from the sites you visit to the time you spend at each location, ensuring your day is as unique as your interests.

Victoria Chinatown tours

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  • West Victoria sightseeing tours
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  • Victoria scenic drives
  • Victoria cultural tours
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Star Sightseeing now offers cultural immersion experiences, letting you dive deep into Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's unique traditions and local lifestyle. That's what you get with Star Sightseeing.

Victoria fall sightseeing

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And for the adventurous souls, Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours and its surroundings offer ample opportunities for outdoor activities.

You're looking for insights, anecdotes, and a connection to the place you're visiting. Victoria pet-friendly sightseeing But it doesn't stop there. Craigdarroch Castle tours You'll bypass the usual lines with priority entrance, ensuring your experience is as seamless as it's memorable.

It's not just about seeing the sights; it's about connecting with the essence of the place, guided by someone who knows it inside and out. In spring, you're greeted by the vibrant bloom of cherry blossoms and tulips, painting the city in shades of pink, red, and yellow. If you're curious about what makes Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours a gem worth exploring, and how Star Sightseeing plans to unveil its treasures, you're in for a journey that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.

You'll also enjoy complimentary upgrades where available, ensuring you're experiencing the best Star Sightseeing has to offer, from luxury accommodations on overnight tours to superior seating on transportation. Here, the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel stands as a testament to luxury and history, having welcomed royalty, celebrities, and travelers for over a century. You're not just riding; you're cruising in comfort, soaking in the sights without a worry about the weather outside.

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Group Tour Operators
Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Weekend Sightseeing Packages

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Weekend Sightseeing Packages

You'll start with intimate farm-to-table experiences, where local chefs showcase the freshest ingredients right from Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's bountiful surroundings. So, buckle up and let Star Sightseeing transform your journey into an unforgettable adventure. As you meander along the winding paths, each turn reveals meticulously landscaped gardens, vibrant floral displays, and serene water features that embody the essence of nature's beauty. With Star Sightseeing, your journey through Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's culinary landscape is as rich and diverse as the flavors you'll encounter.

That's exactly what awaits you. You won't just be a spectator; you'll actively participate in cultural workshops. So, let our local experts turn your Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours visit into a memorable adventure, filled with discoveries that will stay with you long after you've returned home.

First up, there's the Great Ocean Road, where the sea stretches out like a vast, unending canvas. Imagine stepping inside the majestic Butchart Gardens before the gates open to the public or enjoying a private tea service in one of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's historic mansions. Our guides have got you covered.

Victoria summer sightseeing

  • Victoria tourist attractions
  • Victoria fall foliage tours
  • Victoria night tours
  • Victoria urban exploration tours
  • Victoria island tours
  • Old Town Victoria tours
  • Victoria kayaking tours
  • Victoria sightseeing itineraries
  • Victoria senior-friendly sightseeing
  • West Victoria sightseeing tours
  • Victoria festival experience tours
  • Victoria scenic drives
  • Victoria cultural tours
  • Victoria local tour guides
  • Victoria cultural experience tours


Or, perhaps, embark on a wildlife tour where you can spot local fauna in their natural habitat, sparking a love for nature and conservation in young hearts. Off-the-beaten-path Victoria tours Next, embrace the serene majesty of the Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours coastline. Star Sightseeing has carefully designed these tours to ensure minimal impact on the environment.

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Guided Tour Experts

You'll leave with stories that go beyond the usual tourist attractions, making your trip truly unforgettable. For a touch of British charm, afternoon tea at the iconic Empress Hotel is a delightful experience you won't want to skip. They're also on hand to answer your questions, from the most detailed inquiries about the plant species to recommendations on the best spots for a photo. From the iconic British Columbia Parliament Buildings, with their majestic neo-baroque facades, to the historic Craigdarroch Castle, each site tells a unique story of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's rich cultural heritage. You won't have to jostle with crowds or wait in long lines.

Victoria Chinatown tours

  1. Victoria food tours
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  12. Victoria sightseeing with kids
  13. Craigdarroch Castle tours
  14. Victoria fall sightseeing
  15. Victoria pet-friendly sightseeing
  16. Victoria helicopter tours
  17. Victoria luxury tours
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Imagine winding through lush landscapes, where every turn offers a new and stunning vista. Having explored Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's vibrant culture, let's shift gears and blaze through the adventure trails waiting to be discovered. Victoria helicopter tours Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's history is alive with captivating stories waiting for you to discover them. They're always ready to help make your travel dreams a reality.
But that's not all. You'll taste Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's culinary secrets, from hidden eateries serving up local delicacies to exclusive wine tastings in cellars that many don't even know exist. Victoria fall sightseeing These offerings promise to immerse you in the heart of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's cultural richness, reveal its hidden natural wonders, and unveil the stories behind architectural masterpieces. Or picture climbing rugged cliffs that offer breathtaking views once you conquer their heights. Read more about Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours here
As you explore what makes their tours different, you'll discover how they've managed to uncover hidden gems and offer adventures that promise more than just a glance at the well-trodden paths. Having explored Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's hidden gems, you're now ready to experience the city's breathtaking scenic routes with Star Sightseeing Tours. The Mediterranean Garden will surprise you with its drought-resistant plants, providing a stark yet beautiful contrast to the lushness found elsewhere. It's clear that Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Sightseeing Tours has gone above and beyond to ensure that your adventure into the night sky is as luxurious as it's thrilling.

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Guided Tour Experts
Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Luxury City Tours
Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Luxury City Tours

For the nature enthusiasts, 'Wildlife and Waterfalls' presents an opportunity to venture into the heart of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's breathtaking natural landscapes. Victoria sightseeing with kids Moreover, sustainability is on your radar.

Victoria pet-friendly sightseeing

  1. Victoria tourist attractions
  2. Victoria fall foliage tours
  3. Victoria night tours
  4. Victoria urban exploration tours
  5. Victoria island tours
  6. Old Town Victoria tours
  7. Victoria kayaking tours
  8. Victoria sightseeing itineraries
  9. Victoria senior-friendly sightseeing
  10. West Victoria sightseeing tours
  11. Victoria festival experience tours
  12. Victoria scenic drives
  13. Victoria cultural tours
  14. Victoria local tour guides
  15. Victoria cultural experience tours
  16. North Victoria sightseeing tours
  17. Victoria city tours
  18. Victoria snorkeling tours
Walking through its narrow alleys, you'll feel the pulse of centuries-old stories etched in every corner. Star Sightseeing's tours don't just skim the surface; they dive deep into the vibrant tapestry of local traditions, art, and history that make this region unique. These moments aren't just about observing; they're about truly experiencing and forming a connection that goes beyond the surface.

It's an opportunity to travel with purpose, knowing you're helping to maintain the environment for those who follow. You'll find yourself wandering through historical landmarks, marveling at nature's wonders, and immersing in the local culture like never before. With these new tours, Star Sightseeing isn't just taking you to Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours; they're bringing you into the very heart of it. Star Sightseeing ensures these interactions are respectful and authentic, offering you a rare glimpse into the life that tourists rarely see.

Whether you're a seasoned foodie or just love to eat, Star Sightseeing's culinary tours offer an unforgettable way to experience Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's food scene, one bite at a time. From the mesmerizing Sunken Garden, a transformed limestone quarry, to the enchanting Rose Garden with its myriad of colors and fragrances, each turn presents a new marvel. You'll find yourself whisked away to the enchanting Butchart Gardens, a highlight that promises an unforgettable blend of horticultural mastery and natural beauty.

Victoria Chinatown tours

  1. North Victoria sightseeing tours
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  4. Indigenous cultural tours Victoria
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  8. Victoria sightseeing with kids
  9. Craigdarroch Castle tours
  10. Victoria fall sightseeing
  11. Victoria pet-friendly sightseeing
  12. Victoria helicopter tours
  13. Victoria luxury tours
  14. Victoria wildlife tours
  15. Butchart Gardens sightseeing tours
  16. Victoria ghost tours
  17. Victoria VIP tours
Don't miss the Italian Garden, housed in what was once a tennis court, showcasing formal beds, elegant statues, and a picturesque fountain. Victoria wildlife tours

The city's tourism sector has responded to this surge in interest with expanded sightseeing tours, ensuring you get a comprehensive experience of what Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours has to offer. They're equipped to pivot, ensuring your adventure continues seamlessly, regardless of the circumstances. Joining a guided tour can enrich your visit, offering insights into the history and horticulture behind these verdant havens. Imagine standing atop a serene hill, the city's hustle and bustle a distant murmur, as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple.

Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Eco-Friendly City Tours

So, don't just look; see, feel, and let the majesty of Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's scenic views transform your perception of beauty. You've likely heard tales of its enchanting landscapes, vibrant city life, and the seamless blend of natural beauty with historic architecture. Imagine weaving your own basket under the guidance of a local craftsman or molding pottery with techniques passed down through generations. You're not just a visitor here; you're a witness to the timeless beauty that thrives in Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours's secluded spaces, ready to leave with memories that are as pure as the surroundings. Star Sightseeing's tours don't just highlight man-made marvels; they also unveil the breathtaking beauty carved by nature itself.
Each stop is a new chapter in a story of taste, tradition, and innovation that you'll surely want to relive. With Star Sightseeing, you're not just booking a tour; you're indulging in a premium experience that's as extraordinary as the sights you're set to see. As you delve deeper into the city's architectural landscape, don't miss the chance to visit The Empress Hotel. Each feature of the Butchart Gardens invites you into a different world, a testament to the vision and dedication that have shaped this place into a global treasure.
And let's not forget the culinary tours tailored for curious taste buds, offering a chance to indulge in local delicacies that please both young and old. Our guide from Star Sightseeing made sure we didn't miss a single highlight.'Another adds, 'I've been on many tours, but this one stood out. Solo travelers aren't left out either, with options for more in-depth exploration of niche interests. By responding to your demands, they're ensuring your visit to Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours isn't just memorable but meaningful.
They're on it. The Japanese Garden offers a tranquil retreat with its traditional elements of water, stone, and meticulously pruned plants, providing a peaceful contrast to the riotous colors found elsewhere in the gardens.

Victoria luxury tours

  • Victoria fall foliage tours
  • Victoria night tours
  • Victoria urban exploration tours
  • Victoria island tours
  • Old Town Victoria tours
  • Victoria kayaking tours
  • Victoria sightseeing itineraries
  • Victoria senior-friendly sightseeing
  • West Victoria sightseeing tours
  • Victoria festival experience tours
  • Victoria scenic drives
  • Victoria cultural tours
  • Victoria local tour guides
  • Victoria cultural experience tours
  • North Victoria sightseeing tours
  • Victoria city tours
Victoria multi-day tours Take your kids on a scavenger hunt through historical sites, where tales of yore come alive, making history lessons unforgettable. Victoria hop-on hop-off tours You'll find yourself kayaking alongside playful seals, watching eagles soar against the backdrop of crystal-clear skies, and maybe even catching a glimpse of a whale breaching the ocean's surface.

Explore Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours here
Victoria Guided Sightseeing Tours Eco-Friendly City Tours

 

Tours is located in Centre-Val de Loire
Tours
Tours
 
Tours
Medieval buildings on Place Plumereau
Pont Wilson over the Loire
Prébendes d'Oé garden
Flag of Tours
Coat of arms of Tours
Location of Tours
Map
Tours is located in France
Tours
Tours
 

Coordinates: 47°23′37″N 0°41′21″E / 47.393611°N 0.689167°E / 47.393611; 0.689167CountryFranceRegionCentre-Val de LoireDepartmentIndre-et-LoireArrondissementToursCantonTours-1
Tours-2
Tours-3
Tours-4
IntercommunalityTours Métropole Val de LoireGovernment

 

 • Mayor (2020–2026) Emmanuel Denis[1] (The Greens)

Area
1

34.7 km2 (13.4 sq mi) • Urban

 (2018)

684.9 km2 (264.4 sq mi) • Metro

 (2018)

3,631.6 km2 (1,402.2 sq mi)Population

 (2022)[2]

138,668 • Rank26th in France • Density4,000/km2 (10,000/sq mi) • Urban

 (2018)

359,992 • Urban density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi) • Metro

 (2018)

516,973 • Metro density140/km2 (370/sq mi)Demonym(s)Tourangeau (masculine)
Tourangelle (feminine)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal code

37261 /37000, 37100, 37200

Elevation44–119 m (144–390 ft)1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Tours (/tʊər/ TOOR; French: [tuʁ] ⓘ) is the largest city in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. The commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabitants as of 2018 while the population of the whole metropolitan area was 516,973.[3]

Tours sits on the lower reaches of the Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Formerly named Caesarodunum by its founder, Roman Emperor Augustus, it possesses one of the largest amphitheaters of the Roman Empire, the Tours Amphitheatre. Known for the Battle of Tours in 732 AD, it is a National Sanctuary with connections to the Merovingians and the Carolingians, with the Capetians making the kingdom's currency the Livre tournois. Saint Martin and Gregory of Tours were from Tours. Tours was once part of Touraine, a former province of France. Tours was the first city of the silk industry. It was taken by Louis XI, as the royal capital under the Valois Kings with its Loire castles and city of art with the School of Tours. The prefecture was partially destroyed during the French Wars of Religion in the late 16th century and again during the Second World War in June 1940.

The White and Blue city keeps a historical center registered in the UNESCO, and is home to the Vieux-Tours, a patrimonial site. The garden city has a green heritage and an urban landscape strongly influenced by its natural space. The historic city that is nicknamed "Le Petit Paris" and its region by its history and culture has always been a land of birth or host to many personalities, international sporting events, and is a university city with more than 30,000 students in 2019. Tours is a popular culinary city with specialties such as: rillettes, rillons, Touraine vineyards, AOC Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine cheeses and nougats. The city is also the end-point of the annual Paris–Tours cycle race.

Etymology

[edit]

A popular folk etymology of the word "Tours" is that it comes from Turonus, the nephew of Brutus. Turonus died in a war between Corineus and the king of Aquitaine, Goffarius Pictus, provoked by Corineus hunting in the king's forests without permission. It is said that Turonus was buried in Tours and the city is founded around his grave.[4]

History

[edit]

In Gallic times, Tours was an important crossing point over the Loire. It became part of the Roman Empire during the 1st century AD, and the city was named Caesarodunum ("hill of Caesar"). The name evolved in the 4th century when the original Gallic name, Turones, became Civitas Turonum and then Tours. It was at this time that the Tours Amphitheatre was built.

Tours became a metropolis in the Roman province of Lugdunum towards 380–388 AD, dominating Maine, Brittany, and the Loire Valley. One important figure in the city was Saint Martin of Tours, a bishop who shared his coat with a naked beggar in Amiens. The importance of Martin in the medieval Christian West made Tours, and its position on the route of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a major centre during the Middle Ages.

Middle Ages

[edit]

In the 6th century, Gregory of Tours, author of the Ten Books of History, restored a cathedral destroyed by a fire in 561. Saint Martin's monastery benefited from its inception, at the very start of the 6th century from patronage and support from the Frankish king, Clovis I, which increased considerably the influence of the saint, the abbey and the city in Gaul. In the 9th century, Tours was at the heart of the Carolingian Renaissance, in particular because of Alcuin, of York in Northumbria, a renowned book collector and an abbot of Marmoutier Abbey.

In 732, Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi and an army of Muslim horsemen from Al-Andalus advanced 500 kilometres (300 miles) deep into France, and were stopped at Moussais-la-Bataille[5] (between Châtellerault and Poitiers) by Charles Martel and his infantry. This ignited the Battle of Tours. The Muslim army was defeated, preventing an Islamic conquest of France.

In 845, Tours repelled the first attack of the Viking chief Haesten. In 850, the Vikings settled at the mouths of the Seine and the Loire. Still led by Haesten, they went up the Loire again in 852 and sacked Angers, Tours and Marmoutier Abbey.

During the Middle Ages, Tours consisted of two juxtaposed and competing centres. The "City" in the east, successor of the late Roman 'castrum', was composed of the cathedral and palace of the archbishops as well as the castle of Tours. The castle of Tours acted as a seat of the authority of the Counts of Tours (later Counts of Anjou) and the King of France. In the west, the "new city" structured around the Abbey of Saint Martin was freed from the control of the city during the 10th century (an enclosure was built towards 918) and became "Châteauneuf". This space, organized between Saint Martin and the Loire, became the economic centre of Tours. Between these two centres were Varennes, vineyards and fields, little occupied except for the Abbaye Saint-Julien established on the banks of the Loire. The two centres were linked during the 14th century.

Place Plumereau, Medieval buildings

Tours became the capital of the county of Tours or Touraine, a territory bitterly disputed between the counts of Blois and Anjou – the latter were victorious in the 11th century. It was the capital of France at the time of Louis XI, who had settled in the castle of Montils (today the castle of Plessis-les-Tours, at the junction of the Loire and the Indre rivers). Tours and Touraine remained a permanent residence of the kings and court until the 16th century. The Renaissance gave Tours and Touraine many private mansions and castles, joined to some extent under the generic name of the Châteaux of the Loire. It is also at the time of Louis XI that the silk industry was introduced – despite difficulties, the industry still survives to this day.

16th–18th centuries

[edit]

Charles IX passed through the city at the time of his royal tour of France between 1564 and 1566, accompanied by the Court and various noblemen: his brother the Duke of Anjou, Henri de Navarre, the cardinals of Bourbon and Lorraine. At this time, the Catholics returned to power in Angers: the attendant assumed the right to nominate the aldermen. The Massacre of Saint-Barthelemy was not repeated at Tours. The Protestants were imprisoned by the aldermen – a measure which prevented their extermination. The permanent return of the Court to Paris and then Versailles marked the beginning of a slow but permanent decline. Guillaume the Metayer (1763–1798), known as Rochambeau, the well-known counter-revolutionary chief of Mayenne, was shot in Tours.

19th to 20th centuries

[edit]

The arrival of the railway in the 19th century saved the city by making it an important nodal point. The main railway station is known as Tours-Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. At that time, Tours was expanding towards the south into a district known as the Prébendes. The importance of the city as a centre of communications contributed to its revival and, as the 20th century progressed, Tours became a dynamic conurbation, economically oriented towards the service sector.

First World War

[edit]
Tours Cathedral: 15th-century Flamboyant Gothic west front with Renaissance pinnacles, completed 1547.

The city was greatly affected by the First World War. A force of 25,000 American soldiers arrived in 1917, setting up textile factories for the manufacture of uniforms, repair shops for military equipment, munitions dumps, an army post office and an American military hospital at Augustins. Because of this, Tours became a garrison town with a resident general staff. The American presence is remembered today by the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Loire, which was officially opened in July 1918 and bears the name of the President of the United States from 1913 to 1921. Three American air force squadrons, including the 492nd, were based at the Parçay-Meslay airfield, their personnel playing an active part in the life of the city. Americans paraded at funerals and award ceremonies for the Croix de Guerre. They also took part in festivals and their YMCA organised shows for the troops. Some men married women from Tours.

Inter-war years

[edit]

In 1920, the city hosted the Congress of Tours, which saw the creation of the French Communist Party. One future consequence of that congress was the presence of Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese nationalist, who became one of the first members of the party.

Second World War

[edit]

Tours was also marked by the Second World War, as the city suffered massive destruction in 1940. For four years it was a city of military camps and fortifications. From 10 to 13 June 1940, Tours was the temporary seat of the French government before its move to Bordeaux.

German incendiary bombs caused a huge fire, which blazed out of control from 20 to 22 June and destroyed part of the city centre. Some architectural masterpieces of the 16th and 17th centuries were lost, as was the monumental entry to the city. The Wilson Bridge, which carried a water main that supplied the city, was dynamited to slow the progress of the German advance. With the water main severed, nobody could extinguish the inferno. That made inhabitants have no option but to flee to safety. More heavy air raids by Allied forces devastated the area around the railway station in 1944, causing several hundred deaths.

Post-war developments

[edit]

A plan for the rebuilding of the central area drawn up by the local architect Camille Lefèvre had been adopted even before the end of the war. The plan was for 20 small quadrangular blocks of housing to be arranged around the main road (la rue Nationale), which was widened. This regular layout attempted to echo but simplify the 18th-century architecture. Pierre Patout succeeded Lefèvre as the architect in charge of rebuilding in 1945. At one time, there was talk of demolishing the southern side of the rue Nationale to make it in keeping with the new development.

The recent history of Tours is marked by the personality of Jean Royer, who was mayor for 36 years and helped save the old town from demolition by establishing one of the first Conservation Areas. This example of conservation policy would later inspire the Malraux Law for the safeguarding of historic city centres. In the 1970s, Jean Royer also extended the city to the south by diverting the course of the Cher River to create the districts of Rives du Cher and des Fontaines. At the time, it was one of the largest urban developments in Europe. In 1970, the François Rabelais University was founded and centred on the bank of the Loire in the downtown area, not, as was the current practice, in a campus in the suburbs. The latter solution was also chosen by the twin university of Orleans. Royer's long term as mayor was, however, not without controversy, as is exemplified by the construction of the practical but aesthetically unattractive motorway, which runs along the bed of a former canal just 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) from the cathedral. Another bone of contention was the original Vinci Congress Centre by Jean Nouvel. The project incurred debts although it at least made Tours one of France's principal conference centres.

Jean Germain, a member of the Socialist Party, became mayor in 1995 and made debt reduction his priority. Ten years later, his economic management was regarded as much wiser than that of his predecessor because of the financial stability of the city returning. However, his achievements were criticised by the municipal opposition for a lack of ambition. There were no large building projects instituted under his two terms. That position is disputed by those in power, who affirm their policy of concentrating on the quality of life, as evidenced by urban restoration, the development of public transport and cultural activities.

Climate

[edit]

Tours has an oceanic climate that is very mild for such a northern latitude. Summers are influenced by its inland position, resulting in frequent days of 25 °C (77 °F) or warmer, whereas winters are kept mild by Atlantic air masses. The entire valley between Orlans and Angers is famous for the luminosity of its air and for its fabulous châteaux, most of them Renaissance (over 600 between Orlans and Angers).

Climate data for Tours (1991–2020 averages)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.9
(62.4)
22.1
(71.8)
25.3
(77.5)
29.2
(84.6)
31.8
(89.2)
39.1
(102.4)
40.8
(105.4)
39.8
(103.6)
35.5
(95.9)
31.1
(88.0)
22.3
(72.1)
18.5
(65.3)
40.8
(105.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.7
(45.9)
9.0
(48.2)
12.9
(55.2)
16.0
(60.8)
19.6
(67.3)
23.4
(74.1)
25.9
(78.6)
26.0
(78.8)
22.1
(71.8)
17.0
(62.6)
11.4
(52.5)
8.1
(46.6)
16.6
(61.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.1
(41.2)
5.6
(42.1)
8.6
(47.5)
11.0
(51.8)
14.5
(58.1)
18.0
(64.4)
20.2
(68.4)
20.2
(68.4)
16.8
(62.2)
13.0
(55.4)
8.3
(46.9)
5.5
(41.9)
12.2
(54.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)
2.3
(36.1)
4.3
(39.7)
6.0
(42.8)
9.4
(48.9)
12.6
(54.7)
14.4
(57.9)
14.3
(57.7)
11.4
(52.5)
9.0
(48.2)
5.3
(41.5)
2.9
(37.2)
7.9
(46.2)
Record low °C (°F) −17.4
(0.7)
−14.2
(6.4)
−10.3
(13.5)
−3.4
(25.9)
−0.6
(30.9)
2.6
(36.7)
4.3
(39.7)
4.8
(40.6)
0.9
(33.6)
−2.3
(27.9)
−7.1
(19.2)
−18.5
(−1.3)
−18.5
(−1.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 63.0
(2.48)
52.4
(2.06)
48.7
(1.92)
53.0
(2.09)
57.7
(2.27)
53.2
(2.09)
46.6
(1.83)
44.0
(1.73)
51.8
(2.04)
66.0
(2.60)
69.3
(2.73)
72.1
(2.84)
677.8
(26.69)
Average precipitation days 11.0 9.8 9.3 8.9 9.0 7.6 6.7 6.6 7.5 9.8 11.4 11.5 109.0
Average snowy days 2.4 2.9 1.8 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.7 10.6
Average relative humidity (%) 87 84 79 74 77 75 72 73 77 84 87 89 79.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 68.4 95.2 148.8 187.3 214.2 228.5 247.1 237.7 191.3 122.9 78.9 64.6 1,884.8
Source 1: Météo France[6][7]
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity and snowy days, 1961–1990)[8]

Sights

[edit]
Hôtel de Ville, Place Jean Jaurès
St Gatien Cathedral, from Rue Lavoisier, just north of the Rue Colbert intersection.
Pont Wilson

Cathedral

[edit]

The Cathedral of Tours, dedicated to Saint Gatien, its canonized first bishop, was begun about 1170 to replace the cathedral that was burnt out in 1166 during the dispute between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. The lowermost stages of the western towers belong to the 12th century, but the rest of the west end is in the profusely detailed 15th-century Flamboyant Gothic, which were completed just as the Renaissance was affecting the patrons who planned the châteaux of Touraine. The towers were being constructed at the same time as, for example, the Château de Chenonceau.

When the 15th-century illuminator Jean Fouquet was set the task of illuminating Josephus's Jewish Antiquities, his depiction of Solomon's Temple was modelled on the nearly complete cathedral of Tours. The atmosphere of the Gothic cathedral close permeates Honoré de Balzac's dark short novel of jealousy and provincial intrigues, Le Curé de Tours (The Curate of Tours) and his medieval story Maître Cornélius opens in the cathedral itself.

Other points of interest

[edit]

Language

[edit]

Before the French Revolution, the inhabitants of Tours (Les Tourangeaux) were known for speaking the "purest" form of French in the entire country.[9] The pronunciation of Touraine was traditionally regarded as the most standard pronunciation of the French language, until the 19th century when the standard pronunciation of French shifted to that of the Parisian bourgeoisie.[10] That is explained by the fact that the court of France lived in Touraine between 1430 and 1530. French, the language of the court, had become the official language of the entire kingdom.

A Council of Tours in 813 decided that priests should preach sermons in different languages because the common people could no longer understand classical Latin. This was the first official recognition of an early French language distinct from Latin, and can be considered as the birth of French.

The Ordinance of Montils-lès-Tours, promulgated by Charles VII in 1454, made it mandatory to write laws and oral customs in the native language of the area.

An ordinance of Charles VIII (born in Amboise, near Tours) in 1490 and one of Louis XII (born in Blois, near Tours) in 1510 broaden the scope of the ordinance of Charles VII.

Finally, the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts, signed into law by Francis I in 1539, called for the use of French in all legal acts, notarized contracts and official legislation to avoid any linguistic confusion.

Gregory of Tours wrote in the 6th century that some people in the area could still speak Gaulish.

City

[edit]
Pont Wilson crosses the river Loire at the old civic core

The city has a population of 140,000 and is called "Le Jardin de la France" ("The Garden of France"). There are several parks located within the city. Tours is located between two rivers, the Loire to the north and the Cher to the south. The buildings of Tours are white with blue slate (called Ardoise) roofs; this style is common in the north of France, while most buildings in the south of France have terracotta roofs.

Tours is famous for its original medieval district, called le Vieux Tours. Unique to the Old City are its preserved half-timbered buildings and la Place Plumereau, a square with busy pubs and restaurants, whose open-air tables fill the centre of the square. The Boulevard Beranger crosses the Rue Nationale at the Place Jean-Jaures and is the location of weekly markets and fairs.

Tours is famous for its many bridges crossing the river Loire. One of them, Wilson Bridge, collapsed in 1978 but was rebuilt.

In the garden of the ancient Palais des Archevêques (now Musée des Beaux-Arts) is a huge cedar tree said to have been planted by Napoleon.[11] The garden also has a stuffed elephant named Fritz. He escaped from the Barnum and Bailey circus during their stay in Tours in 1902. He went mad and had to be shot down, but the city paid to honor him, and he was taxidermied as a result.

Tours is home to University of Tours (formerly known as University François Rabelais of Tours), the site of one of the most important choral competitions, called Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choir Competition, and is a member city of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing.

Population

[edit]

The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of Tours proper, in its geography at the given years. The commune of Tours absorbed the former commune of Saint-Étienne in 1845 and Sainte-Radegonde-en-Touraine and Saint-Symphorien in 1964.[12]

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1793 21,000 —    
1800 20,240 −0.53%
1806 21,703 +1.17%
1821 21,928 +0.07%
1831 23,235 +0.58%
1836 26,669 +2.80%
1841 30,072 +2.43%
1846 30,766 +0.46%
1851 33,530 +1.74%
1856 38,055 +2.56%
1861 41,061 +1.53%
1866 42,450 +0.67%
1872 43,368 +0.36%
1876 48,325 +2.74%
1881 52,209 +1.56%
1886 59,585 +2.68%
1891 60,335 +0.25%
1896 63,267 +0.95%
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1901 64,695 +0.45%
1906 67,601 +0.88%
1911 73,398 +1.66%
1921 75,096 +0.23%
1926 77,192 +0.55%
1931 78,585 +0.36%
1936 83,753 +1.28%
1946 80,044 −0.45%
1954 83,618 +0.55%
1962 92,944 +1.33%
1968 128,120 +5.50%
1975 140,686 +1.35%
1982 132,209 −0.88%
1990 129,509 −0.26%
1999 132,820 +0.28%
2007 136,578 +0.35%
2012 134,978 −0.24%
2017 135,787 +0.12%
 
Source: EHESS[12] and INSEE (1968–2017)[13]

Transportation

[edit]
Tram model, design by the French agency RCP Design Global

Today, with extensive rail (including TGV) and autoroute connections linking to the rest of the country, Tours is a jumping-off point for tourist visits to the Loire Valley and the royal châteaux.

Tours is on one of the main lines of the TGV. It is possible to travel to the west coast of Bordeaux in an hour and forty minutes. From there, the line follows the Mediterranean coast via Avignon, and then to Spain and Barcelona. There are also lines to Lyon, Strasbourg and Lille. It takes less than one hour by train to get from Tours to Paris by TGV and one and a half hours to get to Charles de Gaulle Airport. Tours has two main stations: Gare de Tours, the central station, and Gare de Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, used by trains that do not terminate in Tours.

Tours Loire Valley Airport connects the Loire Valley to European cities.

Historically, Tours was served by trams and trolleybuses, the trolleybus system lasting from 1949 to 1968. Tram service returned to the city in 2013, when a new tram system began operation. Twenty-one Alstom Citadis trams were ordered.[14]

There is also a bus service, the main central stop being Jean Jaurès, next to the Hôtel de Ville, and rue Nationale, the high street of Tours. The tram and bus networks are operated by Fil Bleu and they share a ticketing system. A second tram line is scheduled for 2025.[15]

Sport

[edit]

The city's football team, Tours FC, currently play in Championnat National 3, the fifth level of French football. They also have a second team, CCSP Tours. CCSP's home stadium is the Stade des Tourettes and they play in the Division d'Honneur Regionale de Centre, the seventh tier of the French football league system.[citation needed]

Tours has served as the finish location for Paris–Tours, a one-day road cycling classic race held almost every October since 1896.[16]

Tours also has a volleyball club named the Tours VB.

Catholics from Tours

[edit]
Venerable Leo Dupont, Holy Man of Tours

Tours is a special place for Catholics who follow the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1843, Sister Marie of St Peter of Tours reported a vision which started the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, in reparation for the many insults Christ suffered in His Passion. The Golden Arrow Prayer was first made public by her.

The Venerable Leo Dupont also known as The Holy Man of Tours lived in Tours at about the same time. In 1849 he started the nightly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which spread throughout France. Upon hearing of Sister Marie of St Peter's reported visions, he started to burn a vigil lamp continuously before a picture of the Holy Face of Jesus. The devotion was eventually approved by Pope Pius XII in 1958 and he formally declared the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus as Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday) for all Roman Catholics.[17] The Oratory of the Holy Face on Rue St. Etienne in Tours receives many pilgrims every year.

Tours was the site of the episcopal activity of St. Martin of Tours and has further Christian connotations in that the pivotal Battle of Tours in 732 is often considered the first decisive victory over the invading Islamic forces, turning the tide against them. The battle also helped lay the foundations of the Carolingian Empire.[18]

Notable people

[edit]
Louise de la Vallière, 17th.C
General Régis de Trobriand, 1865

Public service

[edit]

Arts

[edit]
Jean Fouquet self portrait, ca.1450
Philippe Néricault Destouches, 1741
statue of Honoré de Balzac

Science and business

[edit]
Gabriel Lamé

Sport

[edit]
Pascal Hervé, 2000

Twin towns — sister cities

[edit]

Tours is twinned with:[28]

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations de référence 2022" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 19 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Comparateur de territoire". INSEE. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ Historia Brittonum 7, 10–11
  5. ^ The Andalusian History, from the Islamic conquest till the fall of Granada 92–897 A.H. (711–1492 C.E.), by Professor AbdurRahman Ali El-Hajji, a professor of the Islamic history at Baghdad University, published in Dar Al-Qalam, in Damascus, and in Beirut. "Second Edition". p. 194
  6. ^ "Données climatiques de la station de Tours" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  7. ^ "TOURS (37)" (PDF). Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Normes et records 1961–1990: Tours – St Symphorien (37) – altitude 112m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Tours, France". Meet Minneapolis. 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  10. ^ de Montvalon, Jean-Baptiste. "Philippe Boula de Mareüil : « Les accents participent à la richesse de notre langue". Le Monde (in French). Paris. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  11. ^ "City summary: Tours". us.media.france.fr.
  12. ^ a b Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Tours, EHESS (in French).
  13. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  14. ^ "Tours selects Citadis and APS". Railway Gazette International. London. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  15. ^ "Tramway de Tours – Le Tram de Tours". letramdetours.net.
  16. ^ "City tourism: Tours". Paris–Tours. Amaury Sport Organisation. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  17. ^ Dorothy Scallan. "The Holy Man of Tours." (1990) ISBN 0-89555-390-2
  18. ^ Davis, Paul K. (1999) "100 Decisive Battles From Ancient Times to the Present" ISBN 0-19-514366-3
  19. ^ "Berengarius" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 768–769.
  20. ^ "La Vallière, Louise Françoise de" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 290–291.
  21. ^ "Viollet, Paul Marie" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 107.
  22. ^ "Foucquet, Jean" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 737.
  23. ^ Williamson, George Charles (1911). "Clouet, François" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). pp. 559–560.
  24. ^ "Destouches, Philippe" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 104.
  25. ^ "Dutens, Louis" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 736.
  26. ^ "Bouilly, Jean Nicolas" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 318.
  27. ^ Saintsbury, George (1911). "Balzac, Honoré de" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). pp. 298–301.
  28. ^ "Jumelages et partenariats". tours.fr (in French). Tours. Retrieved 16 November 2019.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]

 

 

Early tour bus in Salt Lake City, 1909
A colourful tour bus at Kuranda, Queensland, Australia
Tourists taking photos from a ParisCityVision open-topped tour bus in Paris.
Salvador Bahia Bus in Santo Antonio da Barra Lighthouse, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
The Needles "Breezer", Isle of Wight, England

A tour bus service is an escorted tour (sometimes a package holiday) or bus service that takes visitors sightseeing, with routes around tourist attractions.

Information

[edit]

Double-decker buses and open top buses are commonly used, for providing a good view. Large coaches are used internationally by tour operators, intercity bus lines and charters, for short and long distance destinations. These buses are larger than regular transit buses, with 2 to 4 axles (6 to 10 wheels).

The history of tour buses in North America began in the early 20th century, when trucks were converted to provide a means for sightseeing within large American cities.[1] Gray Line, the largest sightseeing operators, began operations in 1910.[2] Sightseeing was likely a side business for many intercity bus operators because the same types of buses were used (this remains true even today). World War II saw the industry decline, but it slowly re-emerged as an alternative to driving.[1]

Many musicians, entertainers, dancing crews and bands travel in sleeper buses, commonly referred to as "tour buses". While most if not all of the buses and coaches listed above are for commercial applications, there are many coaches manufactured for personal use as motorhomes. These bus based motorhomes are considered the top end of the RV market.

Common features

[edit]
  • Padded fabric or leather front-facing seats, often reclining.
  • Foot and arm rests.
  • TV monitors connected to DVD player or VCR to provide entertainment or possibly analog TV or DTV for local news or programs (possibly in seats with viewer choosing what station).
  • Basic lavatory – riders may be discouraged from using it except in an emergency,[3][failed verification] but some newer buses feature full service lavatories[4]
  • Cool water dispenser, refrigerator, hot water urn.
  • Wheelchair lift or ramp and "kneeling suspension" for easier access (especially for the elderly and infirm).
  • Tinted windows (and/or curtains or blinds).
  • Luggage compartment (or bins) below in the underbelly of the bus, with overhead hand-luggage racks.

Tour coach manufacturers

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Driven John Mack Kept on Truckin', Helping Build Modern America". Investors.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  2. ^ Risko, Karin (2018). A History Lover's Guide to Detroit. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4671-3567-2.
  3. ^ "Bus Toilets / Toilets of the World". toilet-guru.com. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  4. ^ "New Prevost features to be showc". Prevost-stuff.com. December 22, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2011.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

You're in luck! Star Sightseeing caters to your dietary needs by offering personalized meal options. Just inform them of your restrictions or preferences in advance, and they'll ensure your culinary experience is enjoyable and worry-free.

You can't bring pets on the tour, even in outdoor areas. It's important to plan accordingly if you're thinking of including any furry friends in your travel plans, as they won't be allowed.

Yes, accommodations for dietary restrictions can be made during meal or snack times on the tour. You'll need to inform the tour operator in advance so they can ensure your needs are adequately met.