10 facts about Tours

Here are ten facts about Tours that will hopefully inspire you to take a visit:

1. Tours is the largest city in the Centre region of France, although it is not the regional capital, which is the second-largest city – Orléans.

2. It is known as the “Garden of France (“Le Jardin de la France”) because of the many parks located within the city, and is also famous for its Vouvray wine and chateaux.

3. In 1870 and 1940, the French government was based in Tours.

4. The inhabitants of Tours (Les Tourangeaux) are renowned for speaking the “purest” form of French in the whole country. It is said that the French spoken here has the most standard pronunciation – there is no real accent.

5. In the garden of the ancient Palais des Archevêques (now Musée des Beaux-Arts), there is a large cedar tree that was planted by Napoleon Boneparte.

6. Tours is famous for its original medieval district, called le Vieux Tours. Its preserved half-timbered buildings are considered quite unique to the city.

7. One of the most famous historical figures assocaited with the city is Saint Martin, a bishop who, according to legend, shared his coat with a naked beggar in Amiens. This incident and the ensuing fame of Martin in medieval times made Tours, and its position on the route of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, a major centre during the Middle Ages.

8. The buildings of Tours are white with blue slate (called Ardoise) roofs; this style is common in the north of France.

9. The city was greatly affected by the First World War. It became a major base for American soldiers, and the American presence is remembered today by the Woodrow Wilson bridge over the Loire.

10. Tours is home to François Rabelais University, which hosts one of the most important international choral competitions that there is – Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choir Competition.

Cactus offers French courses in locations across France.