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Tours
Located at the junction of the Loire and the Cher Rivers, Tours is a great base for exploring the valley. The town was badly bombed during the last war and many buildings were replaced with ugly apartment blocks. The town however is surrounded by magnificent châteaux and is a fun place to spend the evenings; the streets and bars are filled with locals and tourists and the huge student population adds to the vibrancy.
Within the city the Cathedral is worth a visit. Its flamboyant Gothic façade is flanked by towers dating from the 12th century, inside are some glorious 13th-century stained-glass windows and the handsome 16th-century tomb of Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne's two children. There is also a fine provincial museum, in the Palais des Archevêques, with a number of Old Masters works' including those by Degas, Delacroix, Rembrandt, and Boucher. (Open Wednesday to Monday 9am to 12.45pm and 2pm to 6pm; admission: €4 adults, €2 children).
