In the historic city of Tours, France

 Thomas Jefferson asked himself “In what country on earth would you rather live ” He first answered “Certainly in my own where are all my friends my relations and the earliest and sweetest affections and recollections of my life.” But, he continued “which would be your second choice?” His answer: “France.”

====================================================================
(in France} The historic city of Tours, once the capital of the kingdom of France has a rich heritage. It is also a lively city, filled with many restaurants and bars that pop up their terraces outside as soon as the sunny days arrive. With such a fascinating past and its great location at the heart of the Loire Valley, this city serves as base for exploring some of the best castles in the area. One of the largest cities in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, Tours is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. It sits on the lower reaches of the Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast.

+ Originally a Gallic settlement, the Romans took over in the 1st century CE. An important figure in the city’s history was Saint Martin who was its bishop during the 4th century. Once a Roman solider, he chose to follow his religious path after seeing a vision of Christ. As a Roman soldier he would not have been encouraged to mingle with the locals. This act of Christian compassion has made him a popular figure. His shrine put Tours on the route of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It became a thriving center during the Middle Ages. The battle of Tours – which took place just outside the city in 732 – is cited as a turning point in the Christian fight against the Moors. The French, under Charles Martel, were victorious and helped to preserve Christianity in Western Europe.

+ The modern city of Tours presents sharp contrasts in its buildings and architectural styles. Finished in 1904, the City Hall (shown here) is typical of its time: pompous and a bit overpowering. Outside the central square the cathedral of Saint-Gatien sums up four centuries of French religious architecture; the choir is from the 13th century, the nave marks a transition between Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles, and the facade was built from 1426 to 1547. Another contrast is found south of the Loire River and west of the rue Nationale, in the town’s old section where cobbled streets and ancient houses are preserved. The Museum of Fine Arts, in the former 17th–18th-century archiepiscopal palace, has a rich collection of paintings.

+ Since the 1960s Tours has expanded rapidly, initially as a result of the decentralization of Parisian industry. The city is an administrative and commercial center, and much of it has been refurbished with offices and retail outlets. The vast Vinci Conference Center designed by French architect Jean Nouvel in the early 1990s is also in the city center. In addition to the University of Tours, the city is home to medical and pharmaceutical research institutions. (Tours is linked to Paris by high-speed train.)