Tours is a city in France, located between two rivers, the Loire to the north and the Cher to the south, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Tours is the largest city in the Centre region of France, although it is not the regional capital, which resides in its second-largest city of Orléans. In 2006, the city itself had 142,000 inhabitants and the metropolitan area had 297,631. Being called "Le Jardin de la France" ("The Garden of France"), the city of Tours has a population of 140,000.

Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the famous Battle of Tours in 732. It is also the site of the cycling race Paris-Tours. There are several parks located within the city. The buildings of Tours are white with blue slate roofs; this style is common in the north of France, as most buildings in the south of France have terra cotta roofs.

Rich with history and a well preserved heritage, Tours is a city of fascinating charm, the original home of the French language and the "art de vivre", is a land of harmony and proportion.Today, Tours is a modern, lively and dynamic centre; with a prospering university, cultivating economic development, still young at heart with many cultural and sports activities. The plentifulness and diversity of the cultural activities represent one of the characteristics of Tours. The architectural heritage, the museums, theatres and cultural events fully justify the reputation of Tours as the culture centre of this region of France.