Touraine is the region of the Loire Valley around the city of Tours. Throughout the centuries, both artists and kings have shown a passionate fondness for Touraine, bestowing on it an incomparable historical and cultural heritage. Poets have sung praises to its gentle charms and sovereigns have chosen its valleys for their most celebrated castles. Touraine’s remarkably rich and vibrant past pervades every town and village. Look around you, wander round the many museums and take a fascinating trip back into the past.

Touraine is widely regarded as an area where the best French is spoken and as the ideal region in which to experience the French “art de vivre”.

Its capital is the historic, vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Tours! Originally a Roman town, Tours is famous for its charming narrow streets, medieval cathedral and Roman ruins. This rich history and well preserved heritage give it a captivating charm which it has guarded carefully while remaining one of France’s most progressive cities.

So, today, with its thriving university, vigorously developing economy and wide range of cultural and sporting activities, Tours offers the visitor a perfect mix of past and present.