Tours

Key Facts about Tours

1. Tours is a city in the Indre-et-Loire département of France.
   
   
2. As of 2006, Tours had an estimated population of 142,000.
   
   
3. People from Tours are known as Les Tourangeaux.
   
   
4. Les Tourangeaux are known for speaking the "purest" form of French in the whole of France. Their pronunciation has been traditionally regarded as the most standard, non-accented, pronunciation of the French language.
   
   
5. In Gallic, pre-Roman times, Tours was an important crossing point of the River Loire, and was known as Turones.
   
   
6. After the Roman conquest, the city was initially known as Caesarodunum ("the hill of Caesar"), but later Civitas Turonum, which eventually evolved into the modern name, Tours.
   
   
7. In the Merovingian and Carolingan periods, Tours remained at important city. In 732, the Franks led by Charles Martel famously defeated an invading Muslim army from Spain, in the vicinity of the city, in the Battle of Tours (also known as the Battle of Poitiers.
   
   
8. In the time of King Louis XI (1423 to 1483; King of France from 1461 to 1483), the silk industry was introduced to Tours - an industry which survives in the city to the present day.
   
   
9. After a period of long and slow decline lasting several centuries, the city's fortunes were restored in the mid 19th century with the arrival of the railway. The city became an important railway node, as well as attracting new service industries.
   
   
10. Tours was profoundly affected by both World Wars:
    
    
    • In World War I, Tours became an important garrison, mainly used by the Americans. This past is recalled today by the Woodrow Wilson bridge over the River Loire (Woodrow Wilson was the US President from 1913 to 1921).
      
      
    • In World War II, the city was bombed by both the Germans and Allies at various times. A huge fire caused by German incendiary bombs destroyed parts of the city center in 1940. Later, Allied air raids in 1944, destroyed the area around the railway station, and killed several hundred citizens.
    
    
11. After World War II, the downtown area of Tours was extensively redeveloped. The old town was however preserved by the establishment of one of the first Conservation Areas, and the city was extended to the South. Additionally, the François Rabelais University was established in 1970. Under Jean

Weather in Tours

• BBC Weather forecast for Tours, France

Books about Tours

Sedona Arizona Red Rock Country Tour Guide Book: Your personal tour guide for Sedona travel adventure! By Waypoint Tours CREATESPACE Released: August 25th, 2009 Paperback (50 pages) Lowest New Price: $5.95* In Stock* *(As of 11:25 Pacific 28 Apr 2024 More Info) Click Here Description: Sedona Arizona Red Rock Country Tour Guide Book: Your personal tour guide for Sedona travel adventure! Manufacturer: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Brand: CREATESPACE ISBN: 1448688442 EAN: 9781448688449 Details: Paperback Number of Pages: 50 Author: Waypoint Tours Publication Date: August 25th, 2009 Release Date: August 25th, 2009 Physical Description: Size: 9.02 Inches by 5.98 Inches by 0.1 Inches Weight: 0.18 Pounds Click here for more information