Travel slow
Touraine: the great escape! Slow travel, sustainable tourism, authenticity and the French art de vivre, Touraine is just 1 hour from Paris by train and has everything needed to satisfy the expectations of visitors looking to explore the region slowly from Tours. On the programme: sailing, hiking, cycling and discovering food and history while taking your time!
![Apéro en bateau sur la Loire]()
Apéro on a traditional boat on the Loire River
The Loire Valley, UNESCO World Heritage, seen from the river or the Loire à Vélo® cycle
Trips aboard a traditional boat on the River Loire or Cher offer some time to unwind in the heart of nature, a stone’s throw from the city. Sailing with a passionate sailor on a private boat provides an opportunity to observe the wild fauna and flora, savour a drink on the water at dusk or discover the old shipyards along the Cher.
If you don’t have your sea legs, the Loire à Vélo®, the first signposted, safe cycle route in France, allows you to admire the landscapes of the royal river, a listed UNESCO Heritage Site, from the banks. Several customisable trips are available: “City break in Tours” for 3 days and 2 nights or “Loire Valley cycling” for 2 days and 1 night.
![Jardins du château de Villandry]()
Villandry's gardens and chateau
In the “Garden of France”
Touraine’s identity is inextricably linked to its gardens. Whether vegetable gardens, orchards or ornamental gardens, they earned the region the nickname the “Garden of France” back in the Renaissance. Exploring the outstanding gardens of the castles of the Loire Valley from Tours is easy. On the programme: stroll through the formal gardens of the Château de Villandry, listed as “Remarkable Gardens”, admire the reflection of the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau in its mirror moat and go back to the time of kings at the Château de Langeais.
![Route touristique des vignobles]()
Vineyards touristic road
In the vineyards
The art de vivre is also revealed in the heart of the vineyards, where typical regional troglodyte caves and vines can be explored on foot, by bike or by e-scooter. Prolong the experience by sharing good times with a tasting of local wines and regional produce with passionate producers.
Slow tourism is also about staying and eating in sustainable establishments. The Green Key label, France’s first sustainable tourism label, guarantees a sustainable approach. Touraine has 24 certified establishments in Indre-et-Loire, including the Château de Beaulieu and the Domaine de la Trigalière.
See you soon in Tours in slow mode!
