Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu better known as Cardinal Richelieu, was Louis XIII ’s right hand man for the eighteen years prior to the Cardinal’s death. He was sixteen years older than the King.

Many beautiful Town Halls in France are re-jiggled châteaux which were built for royalty and the upper crust. Not so Tours. This grandiose palace - no exaggeration - fit for a king, was built by the people (the Council) for the people.

The Gare de Tours is quite simply wonderful.
It was built between 1896 and 1898 during what is now known nostalgically as La Belle Époque, a time of peace and prosperity when France was the cultural centre of the world.