Tours

Tours sits smack in the middle of the Loire Valley, which means it has the confident ease of a city that knows it doesn't need to compete with Paris. It was actually the capital of France during the 15th century, when the kings preferred the Loire to the Seine, and that history shows up everywhere, from the Gothic towers of Saint-Gatien Cathedral to the half-timbered houses crowding around Place Plumereau. The city has a large student population (University of Tours brings in tens of thousands), which keeps things lively and affordable.

But here's the thing: the real identity of Tours is food and wine. Rillettes de Tours, the slow-cooked pork spread with visible meat fibers (protected by a PGI since 2013), is the local obsession. Do not confuse it with pâté.

People will notice. The wines from Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire, both made from Chenin Blanc and both just minutes from the city center, are the default accompaniment to almost everything. Order a glass at any wine bar and you'll instantly understand why locals can't imagine leaving.

Always say 'Bonjour' before anything else when entering a shop, café, or restaurant. Walking in and immediately asking for something reads as rude — a quick bonjour takes two seconds and changes the entire interaction.. Dinner doesn't start before 7:30–8pm.

Show up at a restaurant at 6pm and you might find chairs still on tables. Lunch service (noon to 2pm) is taken seriously; this is often the best value meal of the day.. Tipping is genuinely optional.

Service charges are included by law. A euro or two at a café, rounding up the bill at a restaurant for good service — that's perfectly fine. Leaving 20% will just confuse people..

At restaurants, you keep your fork in your left hand and knife in your right. You don't switch hands after cutting. Elbows stay off the table, and hands stay visible above it.

These aren't pretentious rules — they're just how everyone eats.. The cheese course comes after the main and before (or instead of) dessert. Asking for cheese as a starter will earn you a very specific look from your server..

Do not photograph police or military personnel. It's illegal in France. At demonstrations or checkpoints, put the camera away..

At Les Halles (the covered market), vendors expect you to browse before buying. Touching produce without buying is frowned upon. Ask first, point, and let the vendor pick for you — especially at cheese and charcuterie stalls.

Tours is generally a safe, walkable city. Violent crime is rare. The main concern is standard European pickpocket territory — watch your bag at Les Halles market when it's crowded, and be sensible around Place Plumereau on Friday and Saturday nights when bar-hopping crowds get dense.

It's nothing extreme, just the usual awareness you'd bring to any French city. The student population keeps the energy young and the streets active late, which also means noise in Vieux-Tours after midnight can be real — not dangerous, just disruptive if you're trying to sleep. France's national terrorism alert remains at its highest level, with security visible around major public events and landmarks nationwide; this is broad national context, not specific to Tours.

Social and labor strikes are common across France and can occasionally affect train or tram services — check Fil Bleu's official site or app before important travel days. Keep an eye on SNCF announcements if you're relying on TGV connections through Paris.

The Fil Bleu network covers the city with a single tram line (Line A) running 15km from Vaucanson in the north through to Parc Grandmont in the south. It crosses the Wilson Bridge over the Loire, stops at Tours train station, and passes through Vieux-Tours. Trains run every 6 minutes at peak hours. First trams from Vaucanson start at 4:41am on weekdays and around 5:39am on weekends. Last service runs until around 11:41pm. A single fare is €1.90 and covers up to one hour of travel including transfers. Tickets are cheaper in a book of 10; you can buy them on board buses (at the slightly inflated on-bus rate) or at machines on tram platforms. The Fil Bleu app handles mobile ticketing.

For getting to Tours from Paris: the TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Tours Saint-Pierre-des-Corps takes about 1 hour. From Tours St-Pierre-des-Corps there's a short shuttle train into central Tours station. If flying into CDG, there are direct TGV connections to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps in about 2 hours.

Tours airport (TUF, Tours Loire Valley) is 5km north of the center. Expect €15–20 by taxi to the city center; the nearest tram stop (Vaucanson) is a 20-minute walk. Driving in the old town is not recommended — streets are narrow, mostly pedestrian, and parking near Place Plumereau is nearly impossible. The north of the city has three park-and-ride facilities with 200–250 spaces each, which actually makes sense if you're renting a car to do the châteaux circuit.

A second tram line (Line B) is under construction and expected to open in 2028, connecting La Riche to Chambray-lès-Tours through the city center.