A Day Trip to Tours in the Loire Valley

Tours is only an hour away by a high-speed train, with a short local connection. So when good friends from San Francisco suggested a day trip, bringing along their “petit chien” as part of his first journey to Paris, I didn’t hesitate to join them. Catching the 7:30 am train, we were quickly transported to château country along the Loire River, welcomed by a beautiful old train station.

Since we left so early, our first stop was a café where we struck up a conversation with the people at the next table. Having spent years in the same French classes, my friend and I love chatting with locals. We learned that many residents of Tours are retired Parisians who moved here for a taste of the country while still being close to the city — a pattern confirmed throughout the day. The couple at breakfast suggested we head to the market, and as we passed old half-timbered houses, we discovered a lively and beautiful scene.

As we saw cafés being set up for lunch, we visited the large old church and then stumbled upon a dramatic local who gesticulated wildly with his hands as he shared many stories. We then decided to cross the Loire, enjoying spectacular reflections on the water. Following a great lunch at CASE, we visited a museum where a well-dressed couple marveled at our little dog. Time flew by, and we explored the last part of town before ending up at a park just in front of the station. Relaxing for a bit, we then headed home, watching the sunset over the region.

The beauty of Tours is hard to capture in just a few photos. I’ll soon be adding a “Scenic” album from this trip to my website for your enjoyment!