Top 5 things to do during a heatwave
Summer is in full swing and the mercury is rising? Discover 5 ideas for activities to keep you cool in Tours and Touraine, even in the middle of a heatwave!
![Jardins du château de Villandry]()
Gardens of Château de Villandry
1. Enjoy the coolness of castles and gardens
There's nothing like old stones and shady gardens to escape the heat! The châteaux of the Loire Valley are true havens of coolness. Chenonceau, with its galleries spanning the Cher River, Langeais and its medieval fortress, Villandry and its famous formal gardens, or Azay-le-Rideau, set on its mirror of water... An immersion in history... at a pleasant temperature!
You can find out more about Touraine's not-to-be-missed châteaux in the article 'In Tours, royal vacations guaranteed!'
And to book your châteaux tickets at a reduced rate, click here.
![Exposition OBEY’s Tours au château de Tours]()
OBEY's Tours exhibition at the Château de Tours
2. Cultivate yourself... in the cool!
Tours museums, cinemas, Saint-Gatien Cathedral... choose your favorite cultural venue to escape the high temperatures!
And for a whole day in the cool, opt for Tours City Pass 24h to visit the museums of Tours at preferential rates.
![Caves de la Sybille]()
Cellars of the Sybille
3. Venture to the center of the earth
Looking for a chill in the air? Head for the center of the earth! The Grottes Pétrifiantes de Savonnières (Petrifying Caves), with their natural sculptures shaped by water, are an experience in themselves. For an equally unusual experience, explore the Vallée troglodytique des Goupillières, where you can discover the life of the inhabitants of days gone by. And why not combine discovery and tasting in the region's troglodytic cellars? Here, Loire wines are preserved in galleries at constant temperatures... ideal for a moment of tasting away from the sun.
The Touraine caves can be found in the “Wines and Gastronomy” selection.
![Canoë sur le Cher]()
Canoeing on the Cher River
4. Choose an activity on the water
Glide in a canoe under the arches of Chenonceau castle, try your hand at paddle-boarding in Azay-le-Rideau, or let yourself be carried away by a discovery trip on a traditional boat on the Loire. The water becomes your playground for adventure, sport... and freshness!
Find out more about our water-based activities in the article “Very happy hour on the water”.
![Balade en bateau avec La Rabouilleuse]()
Boat trip with La Rabouilleuse
5. Go out... into the sunset
When the heat of the day begins to wane, it's the perfect time to get out and enjoy the summer atmosphere. The guinguettes on the banks of the Loire provide an idyllic setting for a local aperitif with live music. Extend the evening with a twilight stroll along the Loire, or marvel at the sound and light show at the Scénoféerie de Semblançay. And to discover Tours in a different light (or rather, under the stars), opt for a nocturnal tour of the city.
For more ideas, see our selection in the article "Tours by night: experiences to live!"
