Parc de la Gloriette

The Parc de la Gloriette is one of the largest green spaces in Tours, a park of about forty hectares on the southern side of the town, away from the Loire and the old centre. It is not a historic garden with formal parterres but a modern public park, designed for everyday use by the people who live around it, and it works as a kind of green lung for the neighbourhoods of south Tours. Wide lawns, tree-lined paths, ponds and play areas make it an easy place to spend an afternoon, and it is free to enter.

The park's character is open and informal. Its long, gently shaped lawns are used for picnics, ball games, jogging and cycling, and the paths link different parts of the park, so you can wander without a fixed plan. Because of its size, it can absorb large crowds without feeling crowded, and on warm weekends it fills with families, groups of friends and joggers. Kites are a feature, and each year the park hosts a kite festival that fills the sky with colour. Children have play areas, and there are spaces for outdoor games and sports.

One of the park's distinctive features is its educational vegetable garden. The garden is laid out to show the relationship between people and plants over the centuries, with vegetables, herbs and crops arranged by theme and displayed in a way that makes it easy for school groups and visitors to understand where food comes from. It is an appropriate subject for the Touraine, a region famous for its market gardening, orchards and vineyards, and known historically as the Garden of France. The garden is the centre of an annual event, the Festival of the Vegetable Garden, which celebrates gardening with workshops and demonstrations.

The park follows principles of what is called differentiated management, an approach to maintenance that treats different areas in different ways, mowing some parts frequently and leaving others to grow wild, which encourages insects, birds and wildflowers. It reflects the city's interest in sustainable gardening and gives the park a naturalistic feel in some of its corners. Facilities in and around the park include car parking, picnic areas and a refreshment point, and large events are held in its halls and open spaces from time to time.

The park is a short ride from the centre by tram or bike. The Loire à Vélo cycle route, which follows the river through the region, passes through the Tours area, and the park makes a pleasant stop for cyclists. In the old town, the Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, the Basilique Saint-Martin, the Place Plumereau and the Halles market are the main sights, and the Château de Chenonceau and other Loire châteaux can be reached by train or car. The park suits families, joggers, cyclists and anyone who wants a quiet afternoon outdoors. Check the city's website for the schedule of events.