Place de Chateauneuf (New Castle Square), Tours

New Castle Square (Place de Chateauneuf) is one of the most beautiful places in Tours. The square lies at the foot of the Charlemagne Tower, which is one of the four towers of the ancient Basilica of Saint Martin. Beside the Tower, one can see the remains of the old basilica itself, built between the 11th and the 13th centuries over the tomb of the bishop of Tours.

Another key attraction on the square is the Mansion of the Dukes of Touraine, dating back to the 14th century. The palatial residence consists of two buildings with gables overlooking a courtyard and a Gothic-style octagonal tower in between.

The name Chateauneuf (鈥淣ew Castle鈥�) refers to the historic town that evolved around the Abbey of St Martin back in the 9th century. Attesting to this are the ancient fortifications dating from that period.

By the 2010s, the square had found itself cluttered with vehicles and in much need of renovation. In 2017, Place de Ch芒teauneuf finally received a facelift and was made entirely pedestrian. The gentrified area now boasts ample green spaces, and benches, and is soon to be replenished with the Beaune-Semblan莽ay fountain moved from Rue Nationale.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tours. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: Place de Chateauneuf (New Castle Square)
Sight Location: Tours, France (See walking tours in Tours)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Tours Old Town Walk

Walking Tours in Tours, France

Create Your Own Walk in Tours

Creating your own self-guided walk in Tours is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Historical Churches

The French city of Tours is forever linked to the Battle of Tours, a pivotal event in European history. Taking place in 732 AD, this momentous encounter saw the Frankish leader Charles Martel, a devout Christian, successfully repel a substantial army of Spanish Moors, thus effectively halting the Muslim advance and ensuring the preservation of Christianity throughout Western Europe.

Had it... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Tours Introduction Walking Tour

The Roman Emperor Augustus named the city Caesarodunum (Hill of Caesar). But it was always Tours. Caesar left the Tours Ampitheatre, the largest amphitheater of the Empire. It's good to be Caesar.

Tours is located on the River Loire. It stands between Orleans and the Atlantic shore. It is famous for the Battle of Tours in 732 CE when Spanish Moors led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi was... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles

Tours Old Town Walk

Having successfully preserved much of its historic heritage, Tours is particularly famous for its original medieval district 鈥� Vieux Tours. The bulk of it is concentrated around three squares: Place du Grand March茅, Place Plumereau and Place de Chateauneuf.

A stroll through the Old Town, day or night, offers many delights, and is best started at Place Plumereau. Lined with wood-framed,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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