Tours is a city located in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Here, you will taste the exquisite local cuisine and get a few lessons from the people known to speak the purest form of French in the country.

Fun Facts:

• As of 2018, the city had 136,463 inhabitants. Today the population is believed to be well over 140,000.
• Tours played a major role in the silk industry, thanks to Louis XI. It was dubbed one of the first silk cities and was given the nickname Le Petit Paris.
• Participants of the annual Paris-Tours cycle race also have the city to thank for being the final destination on their arduous journey.
• Most buildings in Tours are white with blue roofs, locally called Ardoise.

Attractions: 

• Cathedral of Tours: The Cathedral of Tours was built to replace a cathedral that was burned down in 1166 as a result of a dispute between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England.
• Hôtel de Ville: The Hotel de Ville operates as the town’s city hall. This elaborate building was designed by architect Victor Laloux in 1904. The magnificent structure survived a 1940 fire caused by Nazi artillery. 
• Basilica of St. Martin: This Roman Catholic basilica provides a final resting place for Saint Martin of Tours. Like many other buildings, it was destroyed during the French Revolution and was rebuilt by Laloux in 1924. 

Tours provides everything you could want in a French town—charm, history, and beautiful architecture.