The centre of Tours lies in between the Loire and its tributary, the Cher, but has spread far across both banks, with industrial Tours north of the Loire. Neither river is a distinct feature of the town, though there are parks on islands in both rivers along with a newish footbridge all through the Loire from the site of the old castle on quai d'Orléans. The city's old quarter focuses not on the cathedral or the château, but on the attractive place Plumereau, some 600 meters to the west of the main rue Nationale.
The gare routière and gare SNCF are found a short way southeast of the cathedral district, and facing the mammoth "hypercentre" that shelters the Centre International de Congrès. Some trains, including most TGVs, visit to St-Pierre-des-Corps, an advert estate away from the city. Frequent shuttles link both stations (about 8min) or you can take bus #2 or #3 from St-Pierre-des-Corps to place Jean-Jaurès (15min). The enormous and excellent tourist office is in the area, on the corner of rue Bernard-Palissy and boulevard Heuteloup (May-Sept Mon-Sat 8.30am-6.30pm, Sun 10am-1pm & 3-6pm; Oct-April Mon-Sat 9am-12.30pm & 1.30-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm;), and sells a museum pass that lets you into eight major sites, along with the Musée des Beaux-Arts and also the Musée du Gemmail. Information regarding Tours along with the surrounding region is to be found online at www.tourism-touraine.com.
Place Plumereau is set out with the tables of expensive cafés and restaurants; the bars in this region can be too costly however, many possess a lot of personality. One of the most promising restaurant streets are rue du Grand-Marché and rue de la Rôtisserie, about the periphery of old Tours, and rue du Commerce and rue Colbert. Sugar and chocolate freaks should get a detour to pâtisseries like La Marotte, 3 rue du Change, and La Chocolatière, 6 rue de la Scellerie. The leading market halls are to the west of St-Martin at the end of rue des Halles.
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