30 Facts About Tours

Tours is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France.

Tours sits on the lower reaches of the Loire, between Orleans and the Atlantic coast.

Tours was once part of Touraine, a former province of France.

Tours is a popular culinary city with specialties such as: rillettes, rillons, Touraine vineyards, AOC Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine cheeses and nougats.

In Gallic times, Tours was an important crossing point over the river Loire.

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In 845, Tours repelled the first attack of the Viking chief Haesten.

The castle of Tours acted as a seat of the authority of the Counts of Tours and the King of France.

Tours became the capital of the county of Tours or Touraine, a territory bitterly disputed between the counts of Blois and Anjou – the latter were victorious in the 11th century.

At that time, Tours was expanding towards the south into a district known as the Prebendes.

The importance of the city as a centre of communications contributed to its revival and, as the 20th century progressed, Tours became a dynamic conurbation, economically oriented towards the service sector.

In 1920, the city hosted the Congress of Tours, which saw the creation of the French Communist Party.

Tours was marked by the Second World War as the city suffered massive destruction in 1940.

From 10 to 13 June 1940, Tours was the temporary seat of the French government before its move to Bordeaux.

Tours has an oceanic climate that is very mild for such a northern latitude.

Cathedral of Tours, dedicated to Saint Gatien, its canonized first bishop, was begun about 1170 to replace the cathedral that was burnt out in 1166 during the dispute between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England.

Ordinance of Montils-les-Tours, promulgated by Charles VII in 1454, made it mandatory to write laws and oral customs in the native language of the area.

An ordinance of Charles VIII was born on in Amboise, near Tours and in 1490 and one of Louis XII was born on in Blois, near Tours and in 1510 broaden the scope of the ordinance of Charles VII.

Gregory of Tours wrote in the 6th century that some people in this area could still speak Gaulish.

Tours is located between two rivers, the Loire to the north and the Cher to the south.

The buildings of Tours are white with blue slate roofs; this style is common in the north of France, while most buildings in the south of France have terracotta roofs.

Tours is famous for its original medieval district, called le Vieux Tours.

Tours is famous for its many bridges crossing the river Loire.

Tours escaped from the Barnum and Bailey circus during their stay in Tours in 1902.

Tours went mad and had to be shot down, but the city paid to honor him, and he was taxidermied as a result.

The commune of Tours absorbed the former commune of Saint-Etienne in 1845 and Sainte-Radegonde-en-Touraine and Saint-Symphorien in 1964.

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Today, with extensive rail and autoroute connections linking to the rest of the country, Tours is a jumping-off point for tourist visits to the Loire Valley and the royal chateaux.

Tours has a tram system, which began service at the end of August 2013.

Tours has served as the finish location for Paris–Tours, a one-day road cycling classic race held almost every October since 1896.

Tours is a special place for Catholics who follow the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

In 1843, Sister Marie of St Peter of Tours reported a vision which started the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, in reparation for the many insults Christ suffered in His Passion.