Nestled in the heart of the Loire Valley, Tours is surrounded by rivers, castles and villages.
Explore charming alleyways, visit small churches and enjoy the peace and quiet.
In this article, we share our selection of the best villages near Tours to help you plan your stay.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
The Best villages near Tours: selection
The Loire Valley is brimming with charming villages and small towns full of character. The list can be very long.
We have:
- selected our favorites and best-known
- listed in order of distance from town
- limited to less than 1 hour's drive from the city
To find all our favorite villages around the Loire castles, see this other article.
1. Chédigny (40 min)
Why do we love it?
Because the village is a garden.
It is even the only village in France to have the label "remarkable garden" not for a park but for the whole village.
Even when the roses are not in bloom, it is very attractive with all the greenery around the houses.
But, if you can, visit when the 1000 rosebushes of the village are blooming to savor the visit with all our senses.
Don't miss the priest's garden with its vegetable garden, orchard and medicinal plants.
And Chedigny also develop its banks of the Indrois for even more moments to admire the beauty of nature.
See more photos.
Getting to the village from Tours
- East of the city of Tours
- Driving time from Tours = 40 min
Practical information
- Allow 1 hour to explore the entire village and gardens
- Easy to explore, flat
- It is better to come when the roses are in bloom
- Some slopes
- Large parking lot at the entrance of the village
- Some restaurants / cafes
- This village has the label "Remarkable Garden".
- See the best rated accommodations around Chédigny
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
2. Crissay-sur-Manse (40 min)
Why do we love it?
For its calmness. Manu had a deep moment of serenity in this village...
It is not big but absolutely charming.
There are beautiful tufa houses, a flamboyant gothic church, a wash house and the ruins of a 15th century castle that was heavily damaged during the Hundred Years War.
Here, the countryside invites itself into the center: almost everywhere you go you get a glimpse of the fields and nature.
Getting to the village from Tours
- South-west of Tours
- Driving time from Tours = 40 min
Practical information
- Allow 1 hour to explore the entire village
- Wear good shoes for the cobblestone streets
- Some slopes
- Easy parking around the church
- A few restaurants/cafes - we had lunch on the terrace at the Auberge de Crissay overlooking the countryside and the church. Good products and a great time.
- This village has the label "Les plus beaux villages de France".
- To be combined with Chinon and the castle of Azay-le-Rideau
- See the best rated accommodations around Crissay-sur-Manse
3. Candes-Saint-Martin and Monsoreau (50 min)
Why do we love it?
Candes-Saint-Martin still offers a very different experience.
This place is also sometimes listed as Montsoreau.
The 2 villages are actually next to each other: the charming village is Candes but the famous castle on the banks of the Loire is in Montsoreau.
The village is located at the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire, a strategic location that allowed the village to develop as a river port.
Here, we like the many houses made of tufa stone, typical of the region and we are sure that you will be surprised by the facade of the church!
Getting to the village from Tours
- Between Angers and Tours, along the Loire River
- Driving time from Tours = 50 min
Practical information
- Allow 1.5 hours to explore the entire village and the road to the panorama. Add 1h30 to visit the castle of Montsoreau
- Wear good shoes for the cobblestone streets and slopes
- Parking lots at the ends of the village. Very few places in the village
- Some restaurants / cafes
- This village has the label "Les plus beaux villages de France".
- See the best rated accommodations around Candes-Saint-Martin
WHERE TO STAY IN Tours
In the city center
Enjoy the city, its restaurants and beautiful architecture.
- Hotel Ferdinand - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hôtel du Cygne - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel L'Adresse - check prices, pictures and availability
Near the station and around the city center
An early train? Or just a little more peace and quiet? Here are our recommendations:
- Hotel Les Trésorières - 5 stars - check prices, pictures and availability
- Aparthotel Central Parc Tours - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Oceania L'Univers Tours - check prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Tours? Here's our suggestion:
- Hotel Domaine de la Tortinière - 20 min away - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Troglododo - unusual 25min away - check prices, pictures and availability
4. Lavardin (50 min)
Why do we love it?
Another village that ticks a lot of boxes: a nice bridge over the Loir (not to be confused with the Loire), a medieval castle, stone houses and a surprising church.
Take your time to discover this village, as each corner brings a different experience:
- Picnic tables along the Loir with a view of the Gothic bridge and fortified castle
- Visit the ruins of the castle that resisted the assault of Richard the Lionheart with beautiful views of the village.
- The church of Saint-Genest de Lavardin, austere from the outside but rich in mural paintings of Carolingian, Byzantine and Romanesque influences.
- troglodytic houses
- ...
Getting to the village from Tours
- North of the city of Tours
- Driving time from Tours = 50 min
Practical information
- Allow 1 to 2 hours to explore the entire village and the castle
- Wear good shoes, as the castle tour has no tarmac path.
- The village is on a slope, and the castle requires the ascent of some steps
- Parking in the village center
- Some restaurants / cafes
- This village has the label "Les plus beaux villages de France".
- See the best rated accommodations around Lavardin
5. Montrichard (50 min)
Why do we love it?
If you visit the famous Loire castles around Tours (Chenonceaux, Amboise, Chaumont-sur-Loire), chances are you will pass by Montrichard. This small town is a bit of a crossroads.
It is a small medieval city of the XIth century with a historical center along the River Cher.
The view from the banks of the river is magnificent and the tour of the center takes you to see: a keep, half-timbered houses, a bridge, buildings from different periods...
Getting to the village from Tours
- East of the city of Tours
- Driving time from Tours = 50 min
Practical information
- Allow 2 hours to explore the entire village and the keep
- Wear good shoes for the cobblestone streets
- Some slopes
- Parking on the other side of the bridge
- Be careful, there can be a lot of traffic because of the bridge which limits the traffic.
- Choice for restaurants / cafes
- See the best rated accommodations around Montrichard
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in the Loire Valley a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!
If you wish to be informed of the publication of our guide on the Loire, register:
6. Montrésor (1h)
Why do we love it?
We absolutely fell in love with the village of Montrésor. For us, it is even far ahead of all the others.
Montrésor has everything we like: a small castle, a beautiful church, charming alleys with stone houses and greenery, plus a river that runs through it.
Don't miss the views of the village from the castle and the views of the castle from the walk along the Indrois River.
This village has a crazy charm. It is worth the small detour.
Getting to the village from Tours
- South-east of the city of Tours, along the Indrois river
- Not far from the town of Loches
- Driving time from Tours = 1h
Practical information
- Allow 2 to 3 hours to explore the entire village and the castle
- Wear good shoes for the cobblestone streets
- Some slopes
- Parking along the main street, near the tourist office
- Some restaurants / cafes
- To be combined with the discovery of the city of Loches.
- This village has the label "Les plus beaux villages de France".
- See the best rated accommodations around Montrésor
7. Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire (1h)
Why do we love it?
A village a little different from the previous ones, with a rich history during the construction of Chambord. It was then an important port where materials arrived.
Today it is nice to stroll along the Loire with some traditional boats, in the alleys which mix stones and greenery, and all around the ramparts. We had a great time.
Here we relax. The village seems to bring serenity to the visitor. And we wouldn't want to leave.
Take the time to get lost and discover houses from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
Getting to the village from Tours
- Between Tours and Orleans, along the Loire River
- Driving time from Tours = 1h
Practical information
- Allow 1 to 2 hours to explore the entire village and the castle
- It is easy to walk around, the village is almost flat
- Parking around the church, next to the school and next to the cemetery
- Some restaurants / cafes
- This village has the label "Small city of character".
- See the best rated accommodations around Saint-Dyé
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Other villages and towns near Tours
Bréhémont
35 min drive from Tours
Village on the Loire with a beautiful view from the opposite bank.
A few traditional boats and a church dominating the village.
Richelieu
Small town with a huge park surrounding the castle (a strait in the 19th century).
Enjoy the town's symmetrical grid layout and mansions.
More ideas in the Loire Valley:
- Best villages near Angers - see list
- Best villages near Saumur - see list
- Best villages near Blois - see list
DISCOVER Tours
- Things to do in Tours
- Where to sleep in Tours: best hotels
- Where to eat in Tours: best restaurants - coming soon
- Rent a car in Tours
- Best castles around Tours
- Visit the Tours Museum of Fine Arts - coming soon
- Visit the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours - coming soon
- Visit the Botanical Garden of Tours - coming soon
- Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral
- Visit the Companionship Museum - coming soon
