Tours, a sporting city along the Loire
As the Paris-Tours riders tackle the final kilometres, they pass through one of Touraine’s most iconic landscapes: the Vouvray hillsides, the paths and rows of vineyards overlooking the Loire, before entering the Tours metropolitan area.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and located in the heart of the Loire Valley, Tours has developed at the crossroads of trade and exchange. Today, the city continues to cultivate this balance between heritage and movement.
A university and cultural hub, Tours combines the vibrancy of a major city with the sense of proximity that defines its identity. Here, it takes just a few minutes to go from a shopping street to the banks of the Loire, from a garden to a lively square, or from a sports facility to a cultural venue.
This spirit of movement can also be seen in the way the city is evolving. Public spaces are becoming greener, mobility is changing and neighbourhoods are being renewed. The City of Tours is supporting this ecological transition with a clear ambition: to improve the everyday lives of its residents.
Major events to experience
“The Classic of the Falling Leaves” is one of the major events that punctuate the local sporting calendar, alongside national and international events. It also reflects the city’s strong connection with cycling, whether for performance, leisure or everyday travel, with the development of cycling infrastructure and safe routes encouraging cycling to be accessible to all.
Every year, the city hosts events that bring together amateur and professional athletes, such as the Harmonie Mutuelle Marathon 10-20 km de Tours and the Howard Hinton Sevens, which showcases Tours as a home of rugby sevens by welcoming French and international teams.
This dynamic is also supported by the strength of the local sporting community. Clubs in Tours proudly represent the city in a wide range of disciplines, including volleyball, handball, triathlon and boxing. Elite sport exists alongside a particularly strong amateur scene, with associations playing a key role in making sport accessible to everyone and developing young athletes, while fostering inclusion and a sense of community.
Facilities for year-round sport
Tours has a network of sports facilities spread across its neighbourhoods, encouraging informal sporting activities while supporting a broader commitment to health and well-being. Walking, running, cycling, swimming, playing team sports: there are countless opportunities to stay active, helping to make the city a more active and supportive place to live.
As they cross the finish line, the riders discover a city that has grown alongside the Loire, looks firmly towards the future and continues, day after day, to make movement a way of life.
BONNEVAL
Nestled in the heart of Eure-et-Loir, Bonneval charms visitors with its peaceful surroundings and rich historical heritage. Sometimes known as the “Little Venice of Beauce”, the town offers a delightful stop with its canals, historic streets and authentic atmosphere. It is an invitation to explore, combining history, nature and a warm sense of community.
A town that lives to the rhythm of sport
In Bonneval, sport is a key part of local life. With modern facilities — a sports hall, stadium, multi-sport court and leisure centre — as well as a particularly active network of local associations, everyone can enjoy a wide variety of activities, whether for fun or competition.
The town is committed to making sport accessible to all, reflecting its dynamic spirit and its determination to promote well-being for everyone.
tours.fr
https://tours.fr
facebook.com/tours.fr
https://facebook.com/tours.fr
instagram.com/villedetours
https://instagram.com/villedetours
linkedin.com/company/ville-de-tours
https://linkedin.com/company/ville-de-tours
tiktok.com/@villedetours
https://tiktok.com/@villedetours
