What can one do in Tours if arriving at 230pm?

Good day peeps,

I%26#39;m arriving Tours (hopefully) at 230pm on a Saturday from the US. I don%26#39;t jetlag that much, so I obviously don%26#39;t want to rest. What can I do in Tours from 330pm onwards (after hotel checkin, etc) - is there a quaint little town closeby that I can catch a bus or a train and see? I did think of Blois but I doubt seeing the town and the chateau are impossible if I leave at 330pm. I don%26#39;t know about looking around Tours itself, the descripton of the town didn%26#39;t really make it look like a town worth sightseeing.

Thanks,

Vikram

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Blois is too far away to do meningfully in your timeframe.

The Musee des Beaux-Arts in Tours is open until 6.00pm, the Cathedral is open, or you might take the little white train tour around Tours to orientate yourself. Otherwise you could opt for walking around town, checking out the cafes and bars.

A lot of it depends what month you%26#39;re here. Mid-summer and you have 9 hours of daylight left, midwinter and it gets dark around 4.30.

Youcould catch a bus to somewhere like Veigne, but apart from general views of an attractive small French town there isnt much to actually do there apart from take photos and sit by the river - something you could do in any of the numerous parks in Tours itself.

Simon

http://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/

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%26quot;is there a quaint little town closeby%26quot;

Tours itself is a very interesting place to spend an afternoon. There is a marvellous cathedral, parts of which date back to the 12th century; there is a 4th century basilica, the old quarter around Place Plumerau, the River Loire passing through the town, the Musée de Baux arts, the Musée de Vins, the Musée du Compagnonnage, and many other things to see.

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Walk down rue Colbert and find a restaurant where you might like to eat dinner and make a quick reservation for later that evening.

Look at the shops along rue Nationale or those around Place Jean Jaurès.

Visit the Office de Tourisme and inquire about concerts or other current events which may interest you.

Visit one of these museums:

1. Musée des Beaux Arts

2. Hotel Gouin

3. Musée des Vins de Touraine

4. Atelier Histoire de Tours

5. Musée du Compagnonnage

You could easily spend all afternoon strolling around Vieux Tours, noting the architecture and enjoying a drink at Place Plumereau.

Visit one of these gardens:

1. Le Jardin Botanique

2. Le square François Sicard,

3. Le Jardin des Prébendes

4. Le Jardin du Musée des Beaux Arts (and one of the largest Cedars of Lebanon I have ever seen)

As far as I%26#39;m concerned, central Tours is a quaint little town.

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Thank you very much, this is quite helpful and looks like I will be walking around and getting acquainted with Tours then.

BTW, I arrive Tours next Sat, and I believe sunset is around 7/730pm end of Aug.