Tours

The iconic medieval square at the heart of the Vieux-Tours, ringed with half-timbered 15th-century houses converted to café-restaurants. The cobblestone pedestrian zone connects to Rue Colbert and Rue du Grand Marché, with leashed dogs welcome throughout and almost all terraces accepting them.

Tours' Gothic cathedral, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, with 13th-15th century stained glass that survived WWII bombing. The interior does not admit dogs (except registered assistance dogs), but the Place de la Cathédrale outside, the adjacent Psalette cloister, and the Jardin de Beaune-Semblançay behind welcome leashed dogs.

Tours' largest urban park, 14 hectares of wooded areas, lawns and play areas north of the Loire, home to the city's first official aire d'ébats canins (fenced off-leash dog play area) inaugurated on 3 October 2021. There is even a 1+ hectare llama enclosure near the tennis club.

Villandry's Renaissance gardens, 15 km west of Tours, are considered the finest in Europe — six terraced sections including the ornamental Renaissance kitchen garden. Leashed dogs welcome throughout the 9 hectares of gardens; small dogs in a bag or basket may also enter the chateau interior.

The 900 km regional cycle route along the Loire, which passes directly through Tours. The 8 km segment east toward Vouvray runs along the river bank under plane trees, fully dog-friendly for walking or cycling, finishing at the Vouvray wine domain terraces.

A 4-hectare 19th-century English-style park designed in 1872 by the Bühler brothers (also landscape architects of Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon), 7 minutes' walk from the train station. A stream, mature trees, lawns and flower beds in a refined Belle Époque setting. Leashed dogs welcome.