3 getaways around “Tourisme & Handicap” certified sites in Touraine

Want to explore Touraine with clear informations on accessibility? Good news: castles, museums, walking trails, and accommodations certified by Tourisme & Handicap or equipped with accessible facilities let you enjoy the Loire Valley at your own pace.

Here are three suggested itineraries around Tours, Villandry, and Amboise to help you discover the region in an accessible way.

Culture and nature in Tours
Prieuré Saint-Cosme gardens
Start your day with a touch of poetry at the Prieuré Saint-Cosme, the former home of Ronsard. With the ruins of the old monastery, the prior’s house, and the gardens, the site offers a respite where heritage meets… alexandrines! The ground floor of the prior’s house is accessible. Audio guides, large-print signs, tactile displays, and accessible tours make exploring the site easier.
Another option: if the sun is at its highest point, you can cool off in the shade of the Île de la Métairie park. This sensitive natural area, emblematic of the Loire Valley landscapes listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a loop trail of about 2 km that is completely flat and wheelchair-accessible, although it may be more challenging in winter. The trail is certified by Tourisme & Handicap for all four categories of disability: mobility, hearing, visual, and intellectual.
To reach the Prieuré Saint-Cosme or Île de la Métairie from Tours, follow the “La Loire à Vélo” route using an electric-assist cargo bike made for people with limited mobility. This equipment is available for daily rental at the Tours Tourist Office, and instructions on how to use it are provided before departure.
Electrically-assisted three-wheeler bike suitable for PRMs
Duration : 1 day - Price : €45
An electrically-assisted three-wheeler bike suitable for PRMs, enabling you to cycle the « Loire à Vélo » with your family or friends in complete safety. On the levees overlooking the Loire or along the towpaths, discover the changing moods and colours of the royal river!
Studio cinemas in Tours
Want to catch a movie?
One Saturday a month at 2:15 p.m., Studio Cinemas offers a “Ciné Relax” screening. Co-organized with Adapei 37, this event is open to everyone and provides special support for people with physical, mental, or sensory disabilities, as well as those with behavioral challenges. Volunteers are on hand to welcome, guide, and reassure moviegoers who need assistance.
“Tourisme & Handicap” certified accommodations in Tours
€€ The 3-star Hotel Ferdinand in Tours: designer furniture, stylish lighting, Art Deco-patterned wallpaper, photo exhibitions... Located just a stone’s throw from the train station, this hotel offers a chic and cozy atmosphere. On the ground floor, the front desk, lobby, breakfast room, and a guest room with a bathroom are accessible and adapted for four types of disabilities.
20, rue du Maréchal Foch in Tours - ferdinandhotel.fr
€ Camping**** Only Camp Tours Val de Loire in Saint-Avertin: just outside Tours, a 10-minute drive from downtown, this campground on the banks of the Cher River offers sites for caravans and mobile homes in a shaded setting, as well as a 35-square-meter chalet accessible to people with reduced mobility.
61, rue de Rochepinard in Saint-Avertin – campingtours.fr
Camping Onlycamp Tours Val de Loire
On the left bank of the Cher River, not far from Tours. This 3-star campsite is open from April-October. 90 partially shaded camping pitches, with various nearby amenities. Caravan and mobile home hire.
Castles, gardens, and a chance to unwind around Villandry
Garden & castle of Villandry
Head west! A must-see in the Loire Valley, the Château de Villandry and its gardens have been designated a “Jardin Remarquable” and certified by Tourisme & Handicap. A specially adapted tour route allows visitors to explore the gardens (please note that some sections are graveled), and the ground floor of the castle is wheelchair-accessible. For visitors with visual impairments, guide dogs are welcome throughout the site; materials in large print and Braille are available, and sensory tours are offered.
Across from the château, treat yourself to a ride with Les Attelages de Villandry (booking only) to explore the cobblestone streets and tuffeau stone houses typical of the region, as well as the banks of the Loire. Certified by Tourisme & Handicap, this equestrian center offers horse-drawn carriages equipped with an access ramp, and the staff is trained to accommodate visitors with various disabilities.
Château Azay-le-Rideau © François Christophe
In the afternoon, the choice is yours! Are you a die-hard castle enthusiast?
Just 15 minutes from Villandry, discover the Azay-le-Rideau chateau, nestled on its reflecting pool. A true Renaissance postcard! In the park, an accessible walking path lets you admire the château from every angle, especially near the waterfall formed by the Indre River. Three wheelchairs and walking canes are available on site.
Since the castle’s interior is not accessible to people with limited mobility (72 steps), visitors can explore the rooms via a large-screen projection in the interpretation room. The site also offers resources adapted for all types of disabilities: tactile models, explanations in French Sign Language, audio descriptions in Braille and large print, and more... The ticket office, gift shop, and restrooms are accessible and equipped with audio systems.
Forteresse Royale of Chinon
More in the mood for a medieval castle?
Continue on to the Royal Fortress of Chinon. Perched on a rocky outcrop above the Vienne River, it has weathered nearly a thousand years of history and hosted a host of colorful figures: Joan of Arc, Louis XI, Anne of Brittany, Richard the Lionheart… stories you can discover through reenactments and accessible tours. Using the HistoPad, visitors can enjoy an immersive tour with modes for people with reduced mobility and visually impaired visitors. Wheelchair users can drive up to the esplanade for a quick drop-off, and the ground floor is accessible. An escort is recommended for people with reduced mobility, as well as for blind or visually impaired visitors.
Rivau chateau
For a more intimate atmosphere, take a stroll through the fifteen “fairy-tale gardens” at the Château du Rivau, about 40 minutes from Villandry. There, you can admire 277 varieties of irises, a collection of fragrant roses, and monumental works of contemporary art. Nearly all of the gardens, outbuildings, stables, and wine press are accessible to visitors with limited mobility, subject to the condition of the natural paths and weather conditions. Guided tours can be adapted to engage the senses of smell, touch, and sound.
A private entrance is available without a reservation, and assistance is provided to help visitors cross the cobblestone path. Two rooms on the ground floor of the château are accessible to visitors with limited mobility, by reservation.
Cité rétro-mécanique Maurice Dufresne
Are you more of a fan of off-the-beaten-path tours or a DIY enthusiast at heart?
In Azay-le-Rideau, the Maurice Dufresne Retro-Mechanical Museum houses a collection that is as impressive as it is unexpected: more than 3,000 machines dating back to the Industrial Revolution, 19th-century tractors, vintage posters, and antique objects. The museum is accessible to people with hearing, visual, and intellectual disabilities: ground-level entry, safety-equipped stairs, audio guides with adjustable volume and a hearing loop, explanatory panels, and three machines that start up automatically along the tour route… Enough to take any curious visitor on a journey through time… without a DeLorean!
The Goupillières cave valley
For an immersive experience of medieval peasant life, head to the Goupillières Cave Village. Three farms carved into the tuffeau limestone have been restored here, complete with bread ovens, a barn, a grain silo, farm animals, a “witch’s house,” and a fortified castle for children. The site is accessible to visitors with limited mobility; guides can adjust their pace and explanations, and a richly illustrated printed guide is available. For food lovers, the warm fouées are an excellent reason to extend your visit!
Le Grand Monarque hotel in Azay-le-Rideau
Tourisme & Handicap certified accommodations near Azay-le-Rideau
€€ La Mignardière 4-star campground in Ballan-Miré: located a 15-minute drive from Villandry Castle, this family-friendly campground features a 32 m² mobile home accessible to people with reduced mobility, a heated indoor pool, playgrounds for children, and a snack bar in the summer. The common areas and restrooms are accessible to people with reduced mobility.
22, avenue des Aubépines in Ballan-Miré - olela.fr/camping-la-mignardiere
€€ La Closerie de La Fuye Bed & Breakfast in Ballan-Miré: restored by the association Les Amis de la Fuye, this family-run property combines inclusion, ecology, art, and heritage. A large room with an accessible bathroom is available for guests with limited mobility. In the garden, you might run into Oscar and Ernest, the mascot llamas, or Okari, the family dog. The property also holds the Clef Verte certification.
89, route des Vallées in Ballan-Miré – lacloseriedelafuye.fr
€€€ The 4-star Le Grand Monarque Hotel in Azay-le-Rideau: this former 18th-century coaching inn, converted into a charming hotel, holds the “Tourisme & Handicap” and “Clef Verte” certifications. Two rooms are accessible and adapted for guests with all four types of disabilities: one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor, with a compliant elevator. A reserved parking space is available in a private parking lot. An ideal base for exploring the surrounding vineyards and châteaux!

3, place de la République, Azay-le-Rideau - legrandmonarque.com
A royal day out around Amboise
Amboise royal chateau
For a “royal” day out, start with the Château d’Amboise! With private access allowing visitors with limited mobility to park as close as possible, tactile models, and Histopad devices featuring an adapted version, this historic monument offers facilities and services designed to make François I’s former residence accessible to as many people as possible.
A private entrance at the top of the park, accessible without a reservation, allows direct access to the gardens during opening hours (please ring the bell). Two wheelchairs are available for loan, subject to availability.
« Chromatic, Chenin experience » in the Maison Laudacius
Touraine can also be discovered through taste! In Montlouis-sur-Loire, Maison Laudacius offers “Chromatic, the Chenin Experience”, a wine-tasting journey that explores this grape variety through light, color, texture, time, and aroma. The venue is accessible to people with limited mobility and features regular seating. However, visitors should be aware of a downward slope leading to the cellars, where lighting may be insufficient for people with visual impairments.
Maps and documents in large print and FALC—easy to read and understand—are available. The tour also includes audio stations and videos with subtitles. Explanations can be tailored to visitors’ needs in a calm atmosphere.
Grand Aquarium de Touraine
In the afternoon, head to two family-friendly sites certified by Tourisme & Handicap: the Touraine Aquarium or the Parc des Mini-Châteaux. The first “immerses” us in the underwater world, from the Loire River to distant oceans, while the second takes us on a tour of 41 iconic castles of the Loire Valley, all scaled down to 1/25. Both parks are entirely on one level, with reserved parking spaces. Both facilities can lend wheelchairs, and the Parc des Mini-Châteaux provides booklets in large print and simplified French.
Croisière fluviale sur le Cher avec La Bélandre
To end your stay on a high note, hop aboard La Bélandre for a river cruise on the Cher, passing under the arches of the Château de Chenonceau. This boat can accommodate a wheelchair, and written and illustrated materials are available. In terms of logistics, a space for people with disabilities is reserved, and accessible public restrooms are located 100 meters from the boarding dock.
Vino Croisière
Duration: 1h30 - Price: €35
In fine weather, share a convivial moment with family, friends or lovers in the Cher valley. Every Friday in July and August, for 1:30 hours, board the Gabare, a traditional Touraine boat, for a cruise under the arches of the Château de Chenonceau. An oenologist and a winegrower will introduce you to the wines of the Touraine Chenonceaux AOC, with a tasting of local produce.

Highlights
• A unique experience in the Loire Valley, combining a château, nature, and fine dining
• A walk beneath the arches of the Château de Chenonceau, an iconic landmark of the region
• The perfect way to end your day in Touraine on a high note—and it’s sure to be one of your best vacation photos
The pratical guide
The “Tourisme & Handicap” certification
The government-issued “Tourisme & Handicap” certification guarantees the quality of accessibility for tourism offerings aimed at people with disabilities. It identifies establishments that meet the specific needs of tourists with disabilities, whether hearing, intellectual, mobility, or visual. To obtain the certification, a site must meet the certification criteria for at least two types of disabilities.
As of 2026, 133 establishments in Tours hold the certification.
Find the complete list of certified locations HERE.
The Tours and Villandry Tourist Offices: certified and accessible
The Tours and Villandry Tourist Offices are certified under the “Tourisme & Handicap” program. Our teams are here to help you plan your stay: choosing tours, finding accessible accommodations, planning accessible activities, arranging transportation, or providing practical information.
Our resources:
Visual impairment: documents in large print and Braille, audio descriptions of the city, and clearly visible signage.
Hearing impairment: Induction loop system for hearing assistance.
Mobility impairment: Level entrances and pathways, documentation placed at the appropriate height, and informational display panels.
Intellectual disability: Guide figures and displays with associated pictograms.
Before you go: the Tourist Office Is here to help!
Even when a site is certified or listed as accessible, it’s recommended that you contact the establishment before your visit. Needs vary from person to person, and certain details may change—such as construction, weather, changes to access routes, equipment availability, parking conditions, or on-site assistance.
For more information, the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office is here to help! Contact us at 02 47 70 37 37 or at info@tours-tourisme.fr
Easier travel by public transportation with Fil Blanc
For people who are unable to use the public transit system, Fil Blanc offers an accessible transportation service available by reservation.
The service provides door-to-door transportation using vehicles adapted for people with limited mobility and trained drivers. It is specifically designed for people who are visually impaired or have mobility impairments, subject to eligibility requirements.
Please note: You must register in advance to use the service. All information is available at filblanc.fr
Parking: interactive maps in Tours and the metropolitan area
In Tours
Parking is free for holders of the European Parking Card or the Mobility Inclusion Card marked “parking for people with disabilities.”
Dedicated parking spaces are located throughout the city to facilitate access to tourist sites, shops, and public facilities.
Find the interactive map of reserved parking spaces at tours.fr
In the metropolitan area
Tours Métropole Val de Loire also offers an interactive map of parking spaces for people with disabilities in the various municipalities of the metropolitan area, available at data.tours-metropole.fr
Acceslibre: the collaborative platform for finding accessible locations
Acceslibre is a government-developed website that compiles accessibility information for public facilities. You can check specific details before heading out: entrance access, presence of a ramp, passage width, elevator, accessible restrooms, parking, trained staff, audio cues, and more.
The best part? Anyone can contribute and update the information. It’s a great way to plan your visit and help others who come after you!