Every day from December 2, 2023 to January 7, 2024, discover 3 châteaux in the Loire Valley, with exceptional tours based on major Christmas themes: it's Christmas in the land of châteaux. At the same time, Tours, capital of the Loire Valley, lights up with the magic of Christmas. The perfect opportunity to combine the discovery of a unique heritage with the magic of Christmas.

The Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office and the city of Tours offer a thematic tour of the former Marmoutier Abbey, led by a guide. Hermitage of Saint Martin.  Surrounded by a cliff, in a meander of the Loire, the site of Marmoutier is distinguished by its tranquillity and picturesque character. It was on this site, which has been occupied since antiquity, that Saint Martin founded a small hermitage in the 4th century, which rapidly developed into a prestigious abbey of considerable influence. Since 1981, the City of Tours has been the owner of the hillside and the adjoining land where most of the old buildings have been preserved. Every summer, the site hosts a programmed archaeological excavation, which you will discover during this visit.

Led by a guide, the Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office and the city of Tours are offering a themed tour by night. Unveiled in November 2018, the lighting plan highlights and emphasises the monuments and urban spaces. Along the way and at nightfall, the soft and subtle lighting reveals the beauty of Tours' architecture. This tour takes you to the city's emblematic sites to learn about the history and specific features of Tours' heritage.