Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems

Victoria ferry tours

Let Star Sightseeing guide you through this natural marvel. Picture yourself stepping into a world where lush, green landscapes merge with the clear blue of the Pacific Ocean. Lean more about Star Sightseeing - Victoria here. With years of experience and a deep love for Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's landmarks, they're equipped to offer insights and anecdotes that you won't find in your average guidebook. Learn more about Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems here In Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems, there's always something happening, making it a perfect destination no matter the season.
Here, you'll find an eclectic mix of shops and boutiques that seem to transport you to another era. You'll leave with stories that go beyond the usual tourist attractions, making your trip truly unforgettable. You can post pictures, update your social media, or even live-stream parts of your tour without using your data plan.
Plan your visit around the blooming seasons to see the gardens at their most vibrant. They're not just adding tours; they're redefining what it means to immerse yourself in the beauty of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems, offering exclusive access and personalized options that cater to your every whim.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria harbor tours

  1. Victoria fall sightseeing
  2. Victoria ski resort tours
  3. Victoria art tours
  4. Victoria paddleboarding tours
  5. Victoria adventure tours
  6. Best tour operators in Victoria
  7. Victoria sunset tours
  8. Victoria wildlife tours
  9. Victoria suburbs sightseeing
  10. Family-friendly tours in Victoria
  11. Victoria Christmas market tours
  12. Victoria cultural experience tours
  13. Victoria fall foliage tours
  14. Victoria sightseeing deals
  15. West Victoria sightseeing tours
  16. Budget-friendly Victoria sightseeing
  17. Victoria guided tours
  18. Victoria bike tours
  19. Best places to visit in Victoria
As you delve into Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's culinary journeys, you're not just tasting food; you're experiencing the city's heartbeat.
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's historic landmarks offer a unique glimpse into the city's past, inviting you to step back in time and explore its rich heritage. You'll start with intimate farm-to-table experiences, where local chefs showcase the freshest ingredients right from Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's bountiful surroundings.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria paranormal tours

  • Victoria ferry tours
  • Victoria summer sightseeing
  • Victoria sightseeing with kids
  • Victoria sightseeing tickets
  • Victoria harbor tours
  • Victoria VIP tours
  • Victoria nature tours
  • Victoria hot air balloon rides
  • Victoria paranormal tours
  • Victoria senior-friendly sightseeing
  • Victoria waterfront tours
  • Victoria night tours
  • Victoria multi-day tours
  • Victoria Chinatown tours
  • Victoria sunset tours
You won't just be a spectator; you'll actively participate in cultural workshops.



Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria night tours

  • Off-the-beaten-path Victoria tours
  • Victoria walking tours
  • Victoria ghost tours
  • Victoria fall sightseeing
  • Victoria ski resort tours
  • Victoria art tours
  • Victoria paddleboarding tours
  • Victoria adventure tours
  • Best tour operators in Victoria
  • Victoria night tours
  • Victoria multi-day tours
  • Victoria Chinatown tours
  • Victoria sunset tours
  • Victoria wildlife tours
  • Victoria suburbs sightseeing
  • Family-friendly tours in Victoria
  • Victoria Christmas market tours
  • Victoria cultural experience tours
  • Victoria fall foliage tours
  • Victoria sightseeing deals

Imagine standing under the vast, open sky, away from the city's glare, where the Milky Way stretches brightly above you.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria sightseeing tickets

  1. Best places to visit in Victoria
  2. Unique Victoria tours
  3. Victoria cherry blossom tours
  4. Victoria botanical garden tours
  5. Victoria zipline tours
  6. Victoria heritage tours
  7. Victoria boat tours
  8. Victoria sightseeing on a budget
  9. Victoria sightseeing itineraries
  10. Victoria spring sightseeing
  11. Victoria cultural tours
  12. Victoria snowboard tours
  13. Best sightseeing in Victoria
  14. Victoria brewery tours
  15. Victoria festival experience tours
  16. Victoria photography tours
  17. Victoria extreme sports tours
  18. Victoria architecture tours
  19. Victoria hiking tours
Each step of your journey through Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's architectural wonders isn't just a sightseeing experience; it's an immersion into the heart and soul of the city's history and culture. You'll find yourself whisked away to the enchanting Butchart Gardens, a highlight that promises an unforgettable blend of horticultural mastery and natural beauty. Nestled on Vancouver Island, Butchart Gardens transforms with the seasons, ensuring each visit is uniquely captivating.

In this city, culture isn't just observed; it's lived. Booking is a breeze. These are the moments Star Sightseeing promises with their new exclusive excursions.

While immersing yourself in Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's rich cultural tapestry, you'll also discover that the exceptional guest services offered by guided tours enhance your experience, making every moment unforgettable. You'll taste seasonal delicacies on food tours, hear stories that resonate with the season's spirit, and see Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems from perspectives that change as the earth orbits the sun. With these new tours, Star Sightseeing isn't just taking you to Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems; they're bringing you into the very heart of it.

Recognizing that every traveler's interests and preferences are unique, many of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's sightseeing tours offer customizable experiences tailored to your desires. The air, fresh and invigorating, fills your lungs with every breath, reminding you of the world's natural wonders that await your discovery. You'll start at secluded lookouts, away from the city's light pollution, where the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a dazzling display.

Victoria Heritage Sites

Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. The city of Victoria is the seventh most densely populated city in Canada with 4,406 inhabitants per square kilometre (11,410/sq mi).

Citations and other links

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Valley Tours

Star Sightseeing achieves this through the use of eco-friendly vehicles, adherence to strict trail and site visitation guidelines, and partnerships with local conservation groups. Each room you enter is like a page from a history book, filled with intrigue and tales of yesteryear. Welcome to a travel experience that's truly your own.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria wildlife tours

  1. Victoria senior-friendly sightseeing
  2. Victoria waterfront tours
  3. Victoria night tours
  4. Victoria multi-day tours
  5. Victoria Chinatown tours
  6. Victoria sunset tours
  7. Victoria wildlife tours
  8. Victoria suburbs sightseeing
  9. Family-friendly tours in Victoria
  10. Victoria Christmas market tours
  11. Victoria cultural experience tours
  12. Victoria fall foliage tours
  13. Victoria sightseeing deals
  14. West Victoria sightseeing tours
  15. Budget-friendly Victoria sightseeing
  16. Victoria guided tours
  17. Victoria bike tours
You won't have to worry about being herded through generic attractions with crowds of tourists.

Imagine wandering through lush rainforests, feeling the mist of towering waterfalls on your face, and strolling along serene beaches with waves gently kissing the shore. 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's Hidden Scenic Gems's rich cultural heritage. You're not just a visitor; you're a VIP, with front-of-the-line privileges that let you skip the crowds and dive straight into the beauty that awaits.

So, let's handle the details while you immerse yourself in the beauty and diversity of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems. Lastly, allocate enough time for your visit. As you've undoubtedly noticed, Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's allure has escalated, captivating a global audience eager for its unique blend of cultural, natural, and architectural marvels.

Star Sightseeing promises not just a trip, but a transformation. After exploring the enchanting Butchart Gardens, you'll find that Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems has much more to offer with its array of must-see attractions and hidden gems.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria paranormal tours

  • West Victoria sightseeing tours
  • Budget-friendly Victoria sightseeing
  • Victoria guided tours
  • Victoria bike tours
  • Best places to visit in Victoria
  • Unique Victoria tours
  • Victoria cherry blossom tours
  • Victoria botanical garden tours
  • Victoria zipline tours
  • Victoria heritage tours
  • Victoria boat tours
  • Victoria sightseeing on a budget
  • Victoria sightseeing itineraries
  • Victoria spring sightseeing
  • Victoria cultural tours
  • Victoria snowboard tours
  • Best sightseeing in Victoria
  • Victoria brewery tours
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's guided sightseeing tours are led by local experts whose knowledge and passion for the city are unmatched.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Valley Tours
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Travel Companies

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Travel Companies

Personalized, flexible, and utterly unforgettable, ensuring every moment of your visit is just as you imagined, if not better. That's exactly what you'll experience with the newly unveiled tours. Each guide's unique perspective and expertise add layers to your adventure, making your tour an unforgettable tapestry of experiences. Next, we'll step inside the Royal BC Museum, where history unfolds in a tapestry of exhibits that capture the essence of British Columbia.
In the spring, you're greeted with the vibrant tulips and daffodils, bursting into life and painting the gardens in a riot of colors. You'll find yourself immersed in the blooming beauty of spring, where gardens burst with colorful flowers and wildlife awakens. You'll also stumble upon the Japanese Garden, where tranquility reigns supreme.
You're not merely observing; you're connecting with the heart and soul of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria Chinatown tours

  1. Best sightseeing in Victoria
  2. Victoria brewery tours
  3. Victoria festival experience tours
  4. Victoria photography tours
  5. Victoria extreme sports tours
  6. Victoria architecture tours
  7. Victoria hiking tours
  8. Victoria luxury tours
  9. Victoria winter sightseeing
  10. North Victoria sightseeing tours
  11. Things to do in Victoria
  12. Victoria eco tours
  13. Best viewpoints in Victoria
  14. Victoria coastline tours
  15. Victoria day trips
  16. Victoria seaplane tours
Don't miss a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's oldest neighborhood, James Bay. Whether it's participating in traditional workshops, tasting local cuisines prepared by native chefs, or engaging in storytelling sessions with the locals, you're not just a tourist-you're an active participant in the cultural tapestry. Read more about Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems here
Unpredictable weather or a sudden change of heart? Victoria summer sightseeing Embark on a culinary journey through Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems, where every dish tells a story of tradition, innovation, and local bounty.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria paranormal tours

  1. Victoria festival experience tours
  2. Victoria photography tours
  3. Victoria extreme sports tours
  4. Victoria architecture tours
  5. Victoria hiking tours
  6. Victoria luxury tours
  7. Victoria winter sightseeing
  8. North Victoria sightseeing tours
  9. Things to do in Victoria
  10. Victoria eco tours
  11. Best viewpoints in Victoria
  12. Victoria coastline tours
  13. Victoria day trips
  14. Victoria seaplane tours
  15. Off-the-beaten-path Victoria tours
  16. Victoria walking tours
  17. Victoria ghost tours
Imagine learning to weave a traditional basket, savoring a meal that tells the story of the land, or sitting around a fire under the stars, listening to tales passed down through generations.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Sightseeing Tours

That's the kind of unparalleled access we're talking about. You're not tied to rigid schedules. Imagine standing under the vast, open skies, where the stars twinkle like diamonds scattered across the velvet night. So, why wait? Your guide, a local expert brimming with knowledge and enthusiasm, will unveil the secrets of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's landmarks.

Once you're ready to embark on this unforgettable journey, booking your adventure with us is a simple and straightforward process. In a world where horse-drawn carriages are now a spectacle rather than the standard, Star Sightseeing invites you to step back in time and experience the eternal beauty of Butchart Gardens through their signature Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems tours. Choosing Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems for your family adventure means you're setting the stage for stories that will be told for years to come, filled with laughter, learning, and the joy of discovery. The tours also guide you along rugged coastlines, where you can gaze out at the endless ocean, its surface glittering under the sun's embrace.

These moments aren't just about observing; they're about truly experiencing and forming a connection that goes beyond the surface. Victoria paranormal tours You'll find yourself up close with the local flora and fauna, witnessing the majestic beauty of waterfalls that many visitors never get to see. You'll find detailed descriptions, including the duration, price, and highlights of each tour, making it easier for you to decide. Embrace different perspectives by getting low to the ground for an ant's view or climbing to a higher vantage point for a sweeping panorama.

The diffused light minimizes harsh shadows and highlights, perfect for capturing the intricate details of flowers and foliage. They'll share fascinating stories and insights into the garden's history, flora, and the family behind this magnificent creation, making your visit truly unforgettable. Victoria hot air balloon rides Here, you'll sample artisan cheeses, handcrafted chocolates, and an array of international dishes that highlight Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's multicultural tapestry. It resonates with every step you take, ensuring memories that linger long after you've returned to the everyday.



Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria wildlife tours

  1. Victoria luxury tours
  2. Victoria winter sightseeing
  3. North Victoria sightseeing tours
  4. Things to do in Victoria
  5. Victoria eco tours
  6. Best viewpoints in Victoria
  7. Victoria coastline tours
  8. Victoria day trips
  9. Victoria seaplane tours
  10. Off-the-beaten-path Victoria tours
  11. Victoria walking tours
  12. Victoria ghost tours
  13. Victoria fall sightseeing
  14. Victoria ski resort tours
  15. Victoria art tours
  16. Victoria paddleboarding tours
  17. Victoria adventure tours
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Sightseeing Tours
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Travel Itineraries
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Travel Itineraries

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. Victoria sightseeing with kids If you're curious about how these excursions stand out and the sustainable practices that make them guilt-free, there's more to uncover about how they're transforming the way we experience travel. With each tour, whether it's by foot, bike, or boat, you're uncovering a piece of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's soul. Moreover, flexibility is a cornerstone of their service. You'll have a chat with a Star Sightseeing expert, sharing what draws you to Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems, what you're itching to explore, and any specific desires for your visit.

Imagine wandering down a narrow lane, only to find yourself in front of an art installation that captures the city's spirit, or stumbling upon a quaint café that offers the best local brews. As you plan your travel season, you'll find their expertly curated itineraries offer more than just a glimpse into the heart of this stunning destination. You'll find yourself enchanted by the city's rich tapestry, with each hidden alley and secret garden adding a layer to your understanding and appreciation of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems. You're given a chance to connect with Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems on a level that resonates with your personal interests, making your visit truly unforgettable.

In light of this, Star Sightseeing has meticulously curated a selection of new tours and enhanced existing ones to not only meet but exceed your expectations. As you journey through the city and its surroundings, each season unfolds with its unique tapestry of colors and experiences. You've explored the city, now it's time to challenge yourself. It's all part of ensuring your Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems sightseeing tour is nothing short of extraordinary.

It's a treasure trove of artifacts that bring the past to life, from First Nations culture to colonial times. It's not just a tour; it's a deep dive into the heart of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's past and present. Exclusive access to certain areas within Butchart Gardens, often restricted to the general public, is included. Star Sightseeing claims to do just that, reimagining Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's sightseeing tours with a fresh, personalized approach.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Scenic Drives

As you weave through the city, the towering presence of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings can't be missed. Star Sightseeing ensures that each natural site visited isn't just a stop but an experience. Just as a lighthouse guides ships safely to harbor, Star Sightseeing illuminates the path for travelers seeking the quintessence of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems, BC, with unparalleled local expertise and customized experiences. Stepping into Butchart Gardens, you're immediately enveloped by an explosion of colors and scents, promising an unforgettable journey through one of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's most prized attractions. Victoria sunset tours
It's not just a walk; it's an immersion into a world that's remained untouched for millennia. You'll savor the flavors of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems through culinary tours that highlight the fusion of indigenous and contemporary cuisine. They're not only well-versed in the past but also keen observers of Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's evolving landscape, offering you a glimpse into both the city's heritage and its future directions.
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems's cityscape unfolds a treasure trove of architectural wonders that beckon you to explore their storied pasts and stunning designs. They don't just show you around; they immerse you in the essence of the city, sharing anecdotes and insights that you won't find in any guidebook. But it doesn't stop there.
Star Sightseeing's tours often include expert guides whose knowledge transforms your walk through the gardens into a journey through time and nature.

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria summer sightseeing

  • Victoria eco tours
  • Best viewpoints in Victoria
  • Victoria coastline tours
  • Victoria day trips
  • Victoria seaplane tours
  • Off-the-beaten-path Victoria tours
  • Victoria walking tours
  • Victoria ghost tours
  • Victoria fall sightseeing
  • Victoria ski resort tours
  • Victoria art tours
  • Victoria paddleboarding tours
  • Victoria adventure tours
  • Best tour operators in Victoria
  • Victoria harbor tours
  • Victoria VIP tours
  • Victoria nature tours
  • Victoria hot air balloon rides
  • Victoria paranormal tours
It's a unique time to experience the calm beauty of Butchart Gardens, offering a different kind of charm. A rushed tour won't do justice to the beauty and tranquility of Butchart Gardens.

Explore Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems here

Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems - Victoria night tours

  • Victoria hiking tours
  • Victoria luxury tours
  • Victoria winter sightseeing
  • North Victoria sightseeing tours
  • Things to do in Victoria
  • Victoria eco tours
  • Best viewpoints in Victoria
  • Victoria coastline tours
  • Victoria day trips
  • Victoria seaplane tours
  • Off-the-beaten-path Victoria tours
  • Victoria walking tours
  • Victoria ghost tours
  • Victoria fall sightseeing
  • Victoria ski resort tours
Victoria's Hidden Scenic Gems Scenic Drives

 

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.

 

 

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]

 

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.

Yes, there are age restrictions on the new exclusive excursions. You must be at least 12 years old to participate, and anyone under 18 needs an accompanying adult to join them on the tour.

To ensure your safety and health, rigorous sanitation measures are in place, including regular disinfection of surfaces, mandatory face coverings for staff and guests, and hand sanitizer stations throughout. Social distancing guidelines are also strictly followed.