Gardens in Tours

Général

Practical information: where to rent a bike.

Nature, the other kind of heritage in Tours!

In the Green Cities Observatory ranking for 2017, Tours was at the top thanks to its outstanding green heritage. The town has 100m² of green spaces per inhabitant, which is twice as much as France’s average of 48m²!

Along with the beautiful cobblestoned streets around Place Plumereau and the timber frame houses in the historic districts, you can enjoy guided visits by the Tours Tourist Office, museums, and Tours Cathedral. But make sure you also set aside half a day to visit the parks and gardens in the town by bike.

The Fine Arts Museum… and its garden!

Off for a bike ride…

From the town centre, head for the “English-style garden”, the Prébendes d’Oé, dating from… 1874! It is listed as a “remarkable garden” and is at the beating heart of the district, where all generations rub shoulders among the tall centuries-old trees. Here you can relax, watch the children playing and even enjoy a game of pétanque along the garden avenues!

The Prébendes d’Oé garden

Then take the cycle path down Avenue de Grammont towards the south and cross over to the left-hand side just before you reach the bridge over the River Cher. Half way across the bridge, you arrive at Honoré de Balzac Park. You will come across a few animals here, as well as a white water pool, the venue for canoeing competitions. At the weir, you can cross the bridge to the other bank, then follow the new Avenue de Grammont near the Water Park. From there, you have 2 options: enjoying a ride alongside the Lac de la Bergeronnerie or crossing the Jardins Familiaux a little further south. Whatever you choose, you will catch up with the path along the Petit Cher later and then follow it all the way to the Gloriette plain.

… and bringing it to a close!

From there, head north on Avenue Auguste Chevalier, as far as Place Rabelais, where you turn onto Rue du Plat d’Etain. Then take a right onto Boulevard Tonnelé and you arrive at the botanical gardens!

By now, either you’ll be feeling tired, and you can head straight back to the town centre, or you’ll want the cycling adventure to continue, so pedal away to Île Simon: at the western tip, you can enjoy one of the best views over the town, with the River Loire and the traditional boats of the Boutavant company, the quayside, Pont Wilson, the municipal library and the Cathedral.

On the way back, you just need to cross “old Tours” and follow the main road to get back to your starting point. And Bob’s your uncle!