Rent Minivan in Tours

The beautiful abbey of Marmieu was founded in the 4th century. St. Martin of Tours was its founder. Locals consider him the patron saint of winemaking. The ancient abbey is an outstanding religious monument for them. The old monastery was badly damaged in the 9th century during the invasion of the Normans. However, it was completely restored. Already in the 11th century, it was considered one of the richest monasteries in Europe. The complex has been partially preserved up to now and includes several old buildings, towers, and part of the fortress wall. Nearby, is the park of St. Radegonde, the most fabulous in the city.
The Museum of Fine Arts is a popular tourist object. It occupies a beautiful Episcopal Palace. The museum contains a rich collection of works by famous European painters and will be interesting to amateurs of Delacroix, Rubens, Degas, and Rembrandt. The opening of the museum in the palace took place in 1910. Previously it used to be a school, a warehouse, and a theater.

Some beautiful castles survived in and around the city. Plessis-les-Tours is the most gorgeous and interesting one. This castle was built as a residence of King Louis XI. After the Great French Revolution, it has been privately owned for many years. One of its former owners dismantled the construction almost completely, but many nice rooms still survived. There is a room where Louis XI spent the last minutes of his life. Yet, visitors can see the old royal prison. The historic building is surrounded by a picturesque garden. In recent years, the castle is often used for theater performances and festivals.
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