City choice: Tours: Hotel du Theatre

Old mediaeval capital of France Fine museums, charming old quarter, fabulous architecture Ideal base for exploring the Loire Valley

About Tours
The bustling university city of Tours was once the mediaeval capital of France. Today, you’ll find the charming old quarter, featuring half-timbered houses and stairway towers, full of shops, cafes and galleries. There’s a clutch of fine museums too, and the Cathedral of St Gatien is a fabulous patchwork of architectural styles. For people with perhaps a few days to spare, Tours is a super base from which to explore the main sights of the Loire Valley. It’s less than an hour on the TVG from Paris too, making it easily accessible (by air or Eurostar) for a weekend break.

Hotel du Theatre

This tiny 2-star hotel is in the heart of the city and dates back to the 15th century. Recently renovated by its friendly owner, Mme Savary, it has just 14 en suite rooms – all simply furnished, but light and airy and all with en-suite facilities.