Guided tours

Duration :  1h30 - Price: from 10 € (under 18s free) A guided tour of the landscape and monumental dimensions of Marmoutier Abbey and a discovery of the archaeological remains. Surrounded by a cliff, in a meander of the Loire, the site of Marmoutier stands out for its tranquillity and picturesque character. It was on this site, occupied since ancient times, that Saint Martin founded a small hermitage in the 4th century, which rapidly developed into a prestigious abbey of considerable influence. Restored and maintained until the French Revolution, the abbey was partly demolished in the 19th century. Since 1981, the City of Tours has owned the hillside and adjoining land where most of the old buildings that have survived are located. Every summer, the site hosts a programmed archaeological dig, which you can discover on this tour. This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

Duration: 1h00 - Price: from €9   With its monumental staircase and Italian-style auditorium, listed as a historic monument since 2024, the Grand Théâtre - Opéra de Tours, located in the city's historic quarter, was inspired by its famous Parisian counterpart. Every year, it presents a season of opera, symphony and children's shows, as well as recitals and chamber music concerts. With its permanent choir, the Grand Théâtre has also been home to the Orchestre Symphonique Région Centre-Val de Loire/Tours since 2002.   This small-group guided tour explores the history and splendour of the venue, exploring the peristyle, the public foyer and the auditorium.

Duration : 1h30 - Price : 15 € Total immersion in 13th-century medieval Tours Rediscover Tours guided by Mahaut, the intrepid daughter of a Crusader militiaman. Embodied by your tour guide in period battle dress, explore together a city with a rich past.   Soak up Tours' dual identity, with the bishop reigning over his cathedral to the east and the spiritual and economic blossoming of Martinopole to the west. As the bells ring out, feel the dust of the streets and the energy of the pilgrims converging on the sacred relics of Saint Martin.   Discover how money, faith and steel wove together the fabric of this vibrant era. Mahaut breaks the shackles of medieval stereotypes about the role of women while fiercely protecting her city's treasures. Join her as she wields the sword of knowledge through the medieval streets of Tours!

Duration : 1h30 - Price : from 10 € Under the guidance of a guide, the Tourist Office and the city of Tours offer you a visit in the footsteps of Balzac Born in Tours on 20 May 1799, Honoré de Balzac retained a real affection for his native city throughout his life. In the preface to his "Contes drolatiques", he states that he had "no desire to be anything other than a good Touraineur" and his precise descriptions have given rise to his reputation as a fine connoisseur of the monuments, streets and history of Tours. This tour puts the architecture of the city into perspective in Balzac's work.