Tours, in the Loire Valley: What It's Like

Hello, it's Yoko! I quit my office job and studied in France.

When choosing where to study abroad, I think a lot of people pick based on the language school.

And then you start to wonder about the accent.

In France, if you only think about tuition, a place like Marseille is cheaper, but I ruled it out because the area isn't very safe and the accent is apparently strong.

The city I finally chose for my homestay was Tours!

This is Tours City Hall. So stylish.

I chose Tours because I heard that the French spoken in Tours is the most beautiful pronunciation in all of France!

Of course, it's a city with plenty of other charms too, so let me introduce a few.

You Can Tour Castles

Along the Loire, France's longest river, which flows through Tours, there are more than 300 castles!

This one is the Chateau d'Amboise. I didn't have time to go inside.

This is the Chateau de Chenonceau. It's really big.

The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The area around Tours Station is quick to see, so on days without school I went around the castles like this (lol). My homestay madame was kind and drove me to lots of places, which I was so grateful for!!

Surprisingly Fun Shopping!

The center of town, around Tours Station, is lined with shops: fast fashion stores, small boutiques, even Galeries Lafayette, so there's plenty of shopping to enjoy.

The tram that runs along the street is surprisingly modern.

I love this mix of retro and urban.

Lots of confiture (jam) sold at the shopping arcade Les Halles. You spread it on bread or crepes.

Of course the number of shops can't compare to Paris, but it's more than enough, and there are lots of stylish ones.

There are fast fashion stores too, and I bought a dress and earrings!

The Food Is Great

It's a regional city, so food and wine are cheap and tasty!

At my favorite bar, wine by the glass starts at 3€ (about ¥390).

In Paris, I think it starts at about double that...

There are even French restaurants where you can eat stylish dishes like this.

So that's a rough summary of Tours' charms, but it barely scratches the surface, so I'll write about it properly bit by bit.

Stay tuned!

I'll do my best! \\\٩( ‘ω’ )و ///