Home to the Paris-Tours road bicycle race, and situated picturesquely on the river Loire, Tours is the place to visit when you’re looking for a truly unique destination in France. Pick up your Avis car rental at Tours Val de Loire Airport, and head into the town.

We make car rental easy, because we know you can’t wait to feel the freedom of the road and get the very most out of your stay. Wherever your travels take you, the keys are waiting for you to unlock the world.

Drive for 13 minutes via Rue de Parcay/D129 from Tours Val de Loire Airport, and you’ll arrive in the centre of Tours, situated between Orléans and the Atlantic coast.

The town’s cathedral is its focal point. Dating from 1170, it’s dedicated to Saint Gatien and features stunning Gothic architecture. Tours’ botanical gardens are all well worth visiting, as is the Museum of Fine Arts. Tours has a fascinating past, once the location of Gallic-Roman settlements, and also the French capital during the 15th century. It’s also a popular pilgrimage destination with many people travelling to see the Basilique St-Martin, where the saint’s tomb is located.

Spend time exploring the city centre with its fine architecture and hole-in-the-wall cafes and bakeries. There are many fine boutiques as well for those after some retail therapy. It’s also widely considered that the residents of Tours have the best pronunciation of French across the country. So be sure to listen out for the local sound while you’re here.

Tours is the perfect introduction to central France. Pick up your Avis car hire and start your road trip.

Frequent renters get upgraded – and additional days for free – by signing up for Avis Preferred loyalty benefits. Simply choose a date and time and we’ll prepare your quality hire car.
 

From Tours, all that the Loire Valley and its surroundings have to offer are at your fingertips.

Loire Valley

Drive for 45 minutes via D952 from Tours and you’ll arrive in the Loire Valley. This entire area is festooned with castles, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in medieval France. The Château d’Ussé is a great place to start, standing tall and white against a lush forest, this is a classic fairy tale castle. Visit the geometric gardens at the Château de Villandry, or see the impressive rooftop at Château de Chambord. But, there is one place that you must visit while in the region: the Château de Chenonceau, an incredible half-bridge-half-castle landmark.

Le Mans

Le Mans is one of France’s least known towns, located just 70 minutes from Tours on Route A28. The best attraction here is the Roman Wall, which features 12 towers and stretches for 1.2km, wrapping around the Old City. Also worth a visit is the Musée de Tesse, a fine art museum, and the 1,000-year-old St Julian’s Cathedral.

Angers

Angers is a 90-minute drive from Tours via the A85. This riverside city was the seat of the powerful dukes of Anjou, and is now known for its tapestries. These include the 14th century Tenture de l’Apocalypse. Other tapestries can be found on display at the Jean Lurcat Museum. There’s also a fantastic old town here with plenty of cafes and boutiques.

Get out and explore France beyond Tours. Your Avis car hire will take you there.