Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, Tours (Loire)

Museum in Tours (Loire)

Garden at Musee des Beaux Arts in Tours, France
Garden at Musee des Beaux Arts in Tours, France
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Casper Moller

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours is one of those museums that feels like a discovery even before you step into the galleries. It occupies the former palace of the archbishops, right beside Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, with a calm courtyard that buffers you from the city's pace and sets you up for a slower, more observant visit. It's one of the things to do in Tours when you want a classic, high-quality collection without the “mega-museum” fatigue.

What makes it especially easy to love is how naturally it fits into your day: you can drop in for an hour between the cathedral and the old town, or make it the anchor of a walking tour of Tours that starts with architecture and ends with art. The building itself adds to the experience, too-formal rooms, generous staircases, and the sense you're moving through a place with its own history, not just a neutral gallery box.

History and Significance of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

The museum's setting is part of its identity: it's housed in the former palace of the archbishops, placed deliberately close to the cathedral and the historic core of Tours. Over time, the building shifted from ecclesiastical power centre to civic cultural space, and that transition still reads clearly as you move from courtyard to salons to galleries.

As a city museum, it plays a key role in understanding Tours beyond the Loire day-trip circuit. It's not just “a museum you do while you're here”; it's a place that connects the city's religious history, its long administrative past, and its modern cultural life in one walkable stop.

It also matters because the collection is broad and confident, spanning major periods rather than focusing narrowly on one niche. The result is a museum that works for first-time art visitors (it’s approachable) and for serious art lovers (there’s enough depth to reward time and attention).

Things to See and Do in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

Start in the courtyard so you can appreciate the building as part of the visit, not just a container for paintings. This is also where you’ll feel the museum’s rhythm: calm, spacious, and slightly set apart from the street, which makes the galleries feel more absorbing once you’re inside.

In the collections, aim for a “three-layer” approach that keeps the visit satisfying even if you’re short on time. First, pick a handful of standout works in the older painting rooms (think strong religious panels, portraits, and the moments where technique is the story). Then move forward into the 18th and 19th centuries, where the emotional temperature changes-more movement, more light, and a more recognisably modern sense of mood. Finally, give yourself one slow room where you look closely rather than widely; the museum is at its best when you let one or two pieces hold your attention.

Don't miss the garden-facing pauses and the small details that make this museum feel local rather than generic. It's the kind of place where a quick revisit is genuinely worthwhile, especially if you're in Tours for a few days and want a repeat stop that feels restful, not demanding.

How to Get to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

The nearest airport is Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF), with Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORY) as the main international gateways if you're connecting into the Loire Valley. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Tours (Loire) on Booking.com.

Tours is a major rail hub, and from Tours train station it's an easy walk to the museum area near the cathedral. You can use SNCF Connect to check schedules, compare routes, and purchase tickets for National (SNCF ) and regional trains (TER). For a more streamlined experience, we recommend using Omio, which allows you to easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for both National and Regional travel across all of Europe, all in one place.

Local buses and trams are useful if you're staying farther out, but central Tours is compact enough that walking is usually the fastest and most pleasant option.

If you’re driving, it’s typically easier to park in central car parks and finish on foot, since the streets around the cathedral are busy and best enjoyed as a pedestrian zone experience. If you are looking to rent a car in France I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

  • Entrance fee: Adults:: €8.40 (full price); €4.20 (reduced).
  • Opening hours: Open Daily: 09 :00 – 12 :45 and 14 :00 – 18 :00 Closed Tuesday
  • Official website: https://mba.tours.fr/
  • Best time to visit: Late morning on a weekday is ideal for quieter rooms and a more intimate feel in the older galleries.
  • How long to spend: Plan 90 minutes for a highlights visit, or 2-3 hours if you want a relaxed pace with time to linger in multiple periods.
  • Accessibility: Expect a historic building layout with some transitions between spaces; if mobility is a concern, prioritise the main painting rooms and ask staff for the simplest route.
  • Facilities: Treat it as a comfortable, weather-proof cultural stop, then build in a café break nearby in central Tours where you'll have the widest choice.

Where to Stay Close to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

For a culture-heavy itinerary, the best base is central Tours around Vieux Tours and the cathedral area so you can walk to museums, restaurants, and evening atmosphere; if your priority is efficient day trips and simple arrivals, base yourself near Tours station for the easiest transport links.

For a convenient, comfortable base near the station, Best Western Plus L'Artist Hotel keeps logistics simple while still being walkable to the historic centre. If you want a more classic city-hotel feel with a strong location for both sightseeing and evenings out, Hôtel & SPA Oceania L'Univers Tours is a solid choice. For a more boutique, treat-yourself stay in a central position, Les Trésorières works well for a quieter night after busy sightseeing days.

Is the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours Worth Visiting?

Yes, particularly if you want an experience that feels distinctly “Tours” rather than a generic checklist museum. The combination of a historic palace setting and a strong, wide-ranging collection makes it a rewarding stop even if you only have a short window between other sights.

It’s also one of the easiest high-value cultural visits in the city: central, calm, and flexible. Whether you give it an hour or an afternoon, it tends to leave you feeling like you’ve understood the city better, not just consumed another attraction.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.4 (1,502)

Museum of Fine Arts at 18 Place François Sicard occupies a former archbishop's palace and showcases furniture and paintings including works by Rubens and Degas; visitors praise its Belgian and Dutch works and local landscape paintings, enjoy wandering three floors with a room about the history of Tours, and note pleasant gardens with a seasonal café and outdoor seating, though some have reported unfriendly reception at the ticket desk.

Josh Arden
7 months ago
"I’ve been here every visit to Tours (au moins 10x) and it is magical every time. Summer is the best when they have a portable café in the gardens.The Belgian and Dutch art is fantastic and the local landscape paintings of Tours, Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire etc are my favorites - the next morning I feel like I’m in the paintings when I go jogging near the river..."
Indy Barnes
5 months ago
"A thoroughly enjoyable walk through history! And the gardens were lovely too."
Mrsrdiamond
3 months ago
"Beautiful building. Lots of history. Cafe in the grounds too with outdoor seating."

For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This museum works best for families when you keep it simple and interactive: pick a small number of rooms, choose a few “spot the detail” prompts (animals, colours, dramatic scenes), and treat the courtyard as a natural reset between galleries. A shorter visit that ends on a high note is far more memorable than trying to do everything.

If you’re visiting with kids who don’t usually love museums, aim for one strong theme-portraits, big stories, or “how artists show light”-and build the visit around that. The historic setting also helps, because the building itself feels like part of the adventure.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, the appeal is the pace: it’s quiet, beautiful, and easy to pair with a cathedral visit and an unhurried lunch nearby. The museum’s palace atmosphere adds a gentle sense of occasion without the crowds you can get at bigger Loire headline sites.

Make it part of a “slow city” day-museum, cathedral area, a long walk through old streets, and dinner in Vieux Tours. It's a simple formula, but it feels effortlessly romantic in Tours.

Budget Travelers

This is a strong budget-friendly culture stop because it delivers serious quality without requiring a full day or expensive add-ons. Keep costs down by planning a focused highlights route and pairing it with free walking time around the cathedral quarter and the old town.

If you're deciding where to spend money in Tours, the Beaux-Arts museum is a reliable “no regrets” ticket: central, substantial, and easy to fit around transport schedules.

History Buffs

History lovers will appreciate how the museum ties directly into Tours’ ecclesiastical and civic story through its setting in the former archbishops’ palace beside the cathedral. (Musées et Patrimoine de Tours) The building frames the art in a way that’s historically legible-you’re moving through spaces that once signalled authority, now repurposed for public culture.

Approach the visit as both art history and city history: notice how rooms feel, how circulation works, and how the museum's location links to the medieval and early modern power geography of Tours.

FAQs for Visiting Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

Getting There

It’s beside Cathédrale Saint-Gatien in central Tours at 18 Place François Sicard. (Musées et Patrimoine de Tours) It’s an easy walk from most central neighbourhoods.
Walk toward the cathedral and stay in the streets around the old town’s eastern side; the museum sits right next to the cathedral area. Once you’re near the cathedral, the final approach is straightforward.
It’s walkable from the station, and the route is simple if you head toward the cathedral quarter. If you prefer, local transport can shorten the walk without adding complexity.
Driving is workable, but central Tours is best handled on foot once you’ve parked in a city car park. If you’re doing a day entirely in Tours, walking and public transport are usually less stressful.

Tickets & Entry

Standard entry is ticketed, with full and reduced rates. (Musées et Patrimoine de Tours) Some visitors may qualify for reductions or free entry depending on eligibility.
For most days, you can usually buy a ticket on arrival and keep your schedule flexible. Booking becomes more relevant if you’re timing your visit around a specific temporary exhibition or event.
It operates with set weekly opening hours, including a Tuesday closure. (Musées et Patrimoine de Tours) Always double-check holiday closures if you’re visiting around major dates.
The main thing people overlook is the Tuesday closure and holiday shut days. (Musées et Patrimoine de Tours) If your itinerary is tight, check hours before you build the day around it.

Visiting Experience

A strong highlights visit takes about 60-90 minutes if you focus on the most appealing painting rooms and keep a steady pace. If you want a calmer experience, add another hour so you can linger.
Yes, because it sits right next to the cathedral area and fits neatly into a one-day walking route. It’s a high-quality stop that doesn’t require complicated logistics.
Pair it with Cathédrale Saint-Gatien and a loop through Vieux Tours for food and atmosphere. That gives you architecture, art, and city life in one compact route.
Absolutely-this is one of the best rainy-day stops in Tours because it’s a substantial indoor visit. Use it to anchor your day, then fit outdoor wandering around weather breaks.

Tours, Context & Itineraries

Yes, it fits naturally because it’s beside the cathedral and close to other central sights. It’s especially useful early in a trip to “set the tone” for Tours as more than a base for châteaux.
Independent visiting works very well if you like moving at your own pace through different periods. A guided option is best if you want deeper context and help choosing what matters most in a broad collection.
Do the museum first, then step straight into the cathedral area, and finish with a walk into Vieux Tours for a café stop. It’s efficient, satisfying, and doesn’t require transport planning.

Photography

It can be, especially for architecture and courtyard atmosphere, but interior rules may vary by room and exhibition. If photos matter to you, check signage as you enter each gallery.
Late morning is often best for clean light in the courtyard and a calmer feel in the building. Earlier is also helpful if you want fewer people in exterior shots.
Restrictions can vary, particularly around temporary exhibitions. The simplest approach is to follow gallery signage and plan your best photos for the courtyard and exterior if interiors are limited.

Nearby Attractions to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

  • Cathédrale Saint-Gatien de Tours: A landmark Gothic cathedral with impressive stonework and stained glass, right next to the museum.
  • Vieux Tours and Place Plumereau: The city's most atmospheric quarter for half-timbered streets, cafés, and evening energy.
  • Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours: An important site connected to Saint Martin's legacy and Tours' long religious history.
  • Musée du Compagnonnage: A distinctive museum celebrating craft traditions, perfect if you want something different from painting galleries.
  • Château de Tours (exhibition centre): A compact cultural stop with changing exhibitions that pairs well with a central walking day.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Tours (Loire)!

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

Read our full story here

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!

Planning Your Visit

Hours:

Open Daily: 09 :00 - 12 :45 and 14 :00 - 18 :00

Closed Tuesday

Price:

Adults:: €8.40 (full price); €4.20 (reduced).

Address: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, Place François Sicard, Tours, France
Tours (Loire): 1 km
Official Website

Nearby Attractions

Similar Blogs