Enjoy an French language course in France
at our language school in the city of Tours

Tours is the largest city in the Centre region of France with 142,000 people. The city is beautifully situated between the Loire river to the north and the Cher river to the south and is well known for its many bridges. Most people have heard of Tours for the famous battle of Tours in 732,or for the Paris-Tours cycling race that it holds, or for the region’s delicious wines. While Tours has history, excitement and culture it is also the city which speaks the purest French. The locals of Tours have the least accent and their pronunciation is considered the most standard which is a great help to anyone learning the language.


Tours began as a Gallic settlement called Turones which was an important crossing point of the Loire. It became part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD and became the major city of the Roman province Lugdunum. They built one of the largest ampitheatres of the Empire in Tours. The city was made famous during the medieval age with the stories of Saint Martin who shared his coat with a naked beggar and the monastery in his honour was supported by King Clovis leading to it being a major stop in the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. In 732, in its most famous battle, Tours routed Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi’s large army of horsemen effectively preventing the Islamic conquest of France. Tours served as the capital of France when Louis XI settled there and many castles were built during this time and the silk industry was born. With the return of the capital to Paris the city began a slow decline which was saved with it becoming a major connecting point for the railroads. Tours garrisoned a large American force during WWI and it’s major bridge is named after their President at the time, Woodrow Wilson. The city suffered terrible fires during WWII and much of it had to be rebuilt but efforts were taken to retain its original character.


Tours has a wonderfully preserved medieval district with half-timbered buildings that are quite rare. Within the Old City is the famous Place Plumereau, a large square that is filled with the tables of restaurants and pubs and an enchanting place for a meal. The most important historical building is Saint Catien’s Cathedral which was built from 1170 to 1547 after two previous incarnations had burnt down. Because of its slow construction it is an interesting mix of architectural styles with some elements being Romanesque, some Gothic and others Renaissance. Located nearby in the bishop’s former palace is the Musée des beaux-arts de Tours which has a large and diverse collection of paintings. Just outside of the city is the Château de Plessis-lez-Tours and was the favourite residence of King Louis XI. While this is only a portion of the original the room where the King died can be seen along with a number of artifacts and impressive design. A beautiful walk can be had through the Jardin botanique de Tours which was created by the people in 1843 and is the city’s oldest public garden. Tours offers the beauty of France alongside the most beautifully spoken French making it an ideal place to become inspired and learn the language for yourself!


What we like about French in Tours:

  • The locals speak the most perfect French making them all excellent examples for a student of the language.
  • The city is filled with beautiful bridges and districts to explore while remaining relatively small and comfortable.
  • Tours is filled with history and the rebuilding of the city allow you to see what medieval France would have looked like.