Château de Tours (visit + photos)

Visiting Tours? Don't miss a visit to its unique castle!

The Château de Tours is worth a visit for its elegant allure , but above all for its top-notch contemporary photography exhibitions!

Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Château in Tours.

Visit the Tours Castle and its contemporary art exhibitions

This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

Content

Is a visit to the Tours Castle worthwhile?

What you can see

Tours Castle: access

Useful tips for visiting the Château de Tours

Is a visit to the Tours Castle worthwhile?

Yes, the Château de Tours is one of the city's must-sees (article to come).
In the astonishing setting of an ancient medieval castle, you can discover rich and varied exhibitions of contemporary art. You'll have the pleasure of discovering world-renowned photographic works thanks to a partnership with Paris's famous Jeu de Paume museum.
Last but not least, the château is located near the banks of the Loire, making itthe perfect starting point for a pleasant stroll!
As you'll have gathered, the Château de Tours is truly original, and quite different from the more conventional Loire Valley castles. To find out more, take a look at our article on the most beautiful castles around Tours!

What you can see

The ancient fortress

Although its foundations date back to Antiquity, it was only in the Middle Ages that Château de Tours became a true fortress, before becoming a royal castle in the 13th century. Take time to look around the building and appreciate its scale.
If you want to see an original fortress, we recommend you book your ticket for the royal fortress of Chinon (only 45min drive from Tours).

The Tower of Guise

Once you're back in front of the entrance to the building, look up at the proud Tour de Guise, towering 25m above you. Built during the reign of Philip III, between 1270 and 1280, you'll appreciate its thick ashlar walls, slate roof and machicolations, typical of a defensive tower.

Did you know? Although the tower was built in the 13th century, it owes its current name to Duke Charles I de Guise, who escaped from it in the 16th century.

Overview of the Guise Tower at Tours Castle

Le logis de Mars

This elegant pavilion was built in the first quarter of the 19th century to link the two medieval towers and house a barracks. Indeed, Tours became a military region under the reign of Napoleon III, and a place was needed to house the Honor Guards. This dwelling is now the main exhibition space, spread over 4 levels. Something to brighten up your eyes!

Jeu de Paume photography exhibitions

Now that you've got a grasp of the building's history, let yourself be carried away by the exhibitions it features! The first 2 levels (ground floor and 1st floor) are dedicated to exhibitions by the Jeu de Paume, the prestigious photography museum in Paris, in partnership with Château de Tours since 2010. You'll have the chance to see some of the most renowned names in contemporary photography. We really appreciated the fact that the display was sober, allowing the works to express themselves fully, and that day we discovered the work of French photographer Franck Horvat. To find out more about the exhibitions, visit the Jeu de Paume website here.

Château de Tours exhibition spaces at a glance

Other contemporary art exhibitions

In addition to a true immersion in contemporary photography, you will also be seduced by the other two exhibition levels, devoted to independent artists selected by a jury assembled by Château de Tours. To see the current program, visit the château's official website here.

Governors' dwelling

In this building, you'll find a permanent exhibition room dedicated to the history of the city's construction. It is illustrated by a wealth of archaeological material from excavations carried out in Tours.

Overview of the logis des Gouverneurs at Tours Castle

Tours Castle: access

Where to find Château de Tours

In downtown Tours
25 avenue André Malraux
3min walk from Cathédrale Saint-Gatien

Access by car and parking

Tours is well served by a number of freeways: the A10 (between Paris and Bordeaux), the A28 (between Rouen and Tours) and the A85 (between Nantes and Bourges).

Paid parking spaces are available on Rue Lavoisier, adjacent to the château, but we recommend the free Bords de Loire parking lot on the same avenue as the château. From here, it's just a 6-minute walk to the castle.

Overview of the parking lot near Château de Tours

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.

See the cars

See our tips

Public transport access

From Tours SNCF train station, you can walk to the château in 13 minutes, or take the tramway (line A, Porte de Loire stop) and walk to the château in 9 minutes. Alternatively, Tours Castle bus stop is just below the château.

And if you're coming by bike, there are also bike racks on the premises.

Visiting difficulties

The château is not particularly difficult to visit, with a flat floor and regular steps to the upper floors.
However, apart from the first floor, the other three exhibition levels are inaccessible to people with reduced mobility.
There are also secure lockers for your belongings.

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

Useful tips for visiting the Château de Tours

Schedules and prices

The Château de Tours is open Tuesday to Sunday from 2pm to 6pm, and prices are as follows:

Full price: €4.50
Reduced rate: €2.30
Free: young people up to age 26

See the latest news on the official website here.

How long

Depending on the scale of the exhibitions, we recommend you allow 1 to 2 hours to visit the entire building and appreciate the works. There's also time for a tour of the educational area and library.

Best moment

As with all cultural centers, late mornings and early afternoons are busier, but note that the venue is reasonably busy all year round.

Direction of visit

There's no set direction for visiting the castle, so you can instinctively rely on what you feel like seeing.

Visiting with children

There are no special arrangements for children. Note that the hook is very high for toddlers. On the other hand, an educational area has been set up on the second floor with books to consult, tables and footstools. We found this space ideal if you want to take a break from the tour and keep your children occupied.

Overview of the educational area at the Château de Tours

Eating out

The castle is right in the heart of the city. You'll find a number of restaurants nearby. Discover a selection of the best restaurants in an article coming soon. However, if you're feeling a little hungry, we've spotted a table in front of the castle (pictured below) available for a quick snack. But perhaps the best thing is to take your picnic and enjoy it while admiring the Loire, on the Promenade des Gabarres, just below the château.

Overview of the park around the Château de Tours

After a cultural visit, what could be better than a little gourmet break? We recommend half-day excursions to the vineyards around Tours for a memorable experience! See prices and availability.