Attractions in the region of Tours, for you and your family ...

Historical & Cultural Attractions

Paysage culturel du Val de Loire: eau, pierre, jardin, vigne
Loire Valley cultural landscape: water, stone, garden, vine

Tours is considered as the capital of the Loire Valley, which is known for its fabulous castles, gardens, and wines ! The Loire Valley is the largest UNESCO's World Heritage Site in France. For more information, just type "Loire Valley" or "Loire Castles" into your favorite internet search engine. You can begin your virtual visit with the Loire Valley official WebSite. Here is a selection of some points of interest, that you can locate using the ICOST2009 Google Map.

Chenonceaux, the castle over the river.
Clos-Lucé manor, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years. A rich museum about engineering, with many reproductions of Leornardo's fabulous machines.
Castle of Cheverny, the most beautifully decorated and furnished castle in the Loire Valley. You will also meet there Tintin, as Cheverny was the inspiration for Captain Haddock's Moulinsart castle.
Castle of Ussé, the castle of the Beauty asleep in the wood ...
Chambord castle, with its 440 rooms, 84 stairs and 365 chimneys !
Chaumont-sur-Loire castle, who hosts each year an international garden festival.
The Royal City of Loches, with its 11th century keep and its royal residence.
The Royal Fortress of Chinon (12th century), where Joan of Arc met the future King Charles VII in 1429. Chinon is also famous for its red wine, and as the fatherland of François Rabelais.
The cave dwellings and cellars of Vouvray, the best place to appreciate the dry, semi-dry or sweet Vouvray's white wine.

Theme Park

---> Locate the parks thanks to the map at the top of the page <---

	Futuroscope is a theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic futorscope and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. In 2007, the park received 1.6 million visitors ... Direct access by High Speed Train (Futuroscope station), only 35 minutes from Tours*.
	The Puy du Fou is a historical theme park. "It's like Disneyland for history buffs. The Puy du Fou theme park, which hosts the largest evening performance in the world on 23 hectares of stage, is one of the highlights of the summer season in western France". Read the complete presentation here or visit the park web site.
	Thanks to the direct high speed train (the Marne-La-Vallée/Chessy station is at 2 minutes on foot of the park entrance), the famous Disneyland Paris Park is at only 1h40 from Tours* ...

* Some High Speed Trains may stop at Tours' peripherical train station, named St Pierre Des Corps. A free shuttle service is offered from/to Tours central station (5 minutes).