Have a walk through old Tours. Around Plumereau square, you'll find pedestrian streets, often lined with old houses and restored blocks of buildings. An abundance of cafes, restaurants and terraces, in old Tours which has been restored, makes it a particularly pleasant area for strolls, all the more since the nearby Faculty of Arts helps to keep street activity alive.
Plumereau Square located in the centre of old Tours' pedestrian area, is lined with pretty wood-panelled houses (see the beautiful facade with wooden crosspieces at the corner of Rôtisserie Street). On sunny days, the square livens up with its cafés and restaurants. Nearby, there are streets lined with old dwellings with half-timbered facades (Grand Marché Street) and beautiful 16C mansion at n° 33 Bretonneau Street.
The Cathedral area is less frequented by the tourists than the old town of Tours. It has private mansions, gardens, the Archbishops' Palace, (which houses the Fine Arts Museum) and of course, the Cathedral. This area is full of charm. Round the corner from Petit-Cupidon Street and that of the Ursulines, an archway of buildings provides access to the departmental archives gardens. This is the best kept part of the Gallo-Roman enclosure.
Colbert Street used to be the town's main axis before Wilson's Bridge was built. Then, this role was befell on Nationale Street. A number of antique dealers and some restaurants embellish this walk along this street. At n° 41, the sign À la Pucelle armée on a half-timbered house is a reminder that in 1429, Joanne of Arc might have had here armour made here. Take the Rue du Cygne, in order to join the Rue de la Scellerie and continue your walk among the antique shops.
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