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The centre of Tours lies between the Loire and its tributary, the Cher, but has spread far across both banks, with industrial Tours north of the Loire. Neither river is a particular feature of the town, though there are parks on islands in both rivers and a newish footbridge across the Loire from the site of the old castle on quai d'Orléans. The city's old quarter focuses not on the cathedral or the château, but on the picturesque place Plumereau, some 600m to the west of the main rue Nationale
The gare routière and gare SNCF are situated a short way southeast of the cathedral district, and face the mammoth "hypercentre" that shelters the Centre International de Congrès. Some trains, including most TGVs, stop at St-Pierre-des-Corps , an industrial estate outside the city. Frequent shuttles link the two stations (about 8min) or you can take bus #2 or #3 from St-Pierre-des-Corps to place Jean-Jaurès (15min). The huge and excellent tourist office is close by, on the corner of rue Bernard-Palissy and boulevard Heuteloup (May-Sept Mon-Sat 8.30am-6.30pm, Sun 10am-1pm & 3-6pm; Oct-April Mon-Sat 9am-12.30pm & 1.30-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm;), and sells a museum pass that lets you into eight major sites, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée du Gemmail. Information on Tours and the surrounding region can be found online at www.tourism-touraine.com.
Place Plumereau is set out with the tables of expensive cafés and restaurants ; the bars in this area can be overpriced but many have a lot of character. The most promising restaurant streets are rue du Grand-Marché and rue de la Rôtisserie, on the periphery of old Tours, and rue du Commerce and rue Colbert. Sugar and chocolate freaks should make a detour to pâtisseries like La Marotte, 3 rue du Change, and La Chocolatière, 6 rue de la Scellerie. The main market halls are to the west of St-Martin at the end of rue des Halles.
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