château de Tours

The Chateau de Tours is a historic castle located in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France. Originally constructed in the 11th century, it served as the residence of the Lords of France and later became a royal dwelling. Today, the site functions as a cultural venue hosting contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photographs organized by Le Jeu de Paume, featuring works by artists such as Joan Miro, Daniel Buren, Nadar, and Robert Capa.

The initial stone castle was built between 1044 and 1060, likely by the Angevin count Geoffroy Martel after his victory at the battle of Nouy, succeeding earlier wooden constructions from the 5th century. In the 13th century, the original keep and its dependencies were absorbed into a quadrangular enclosure, and the site acquired royal status with further modifications in the 15th century. The complex was almost entirely destroyed in the 18th century, and its two remaining towers were incorporated into a new building used by the military starting during the French Revolution. After serving as a barracks, the site was restored in the second half of the 20th century following archaeological excavations between 1974 and 1978. It received partial classification as a monument historique on 20 August 1913, with another part listed in the supplementary inventory on 21 November 1973. Until the 2000s, the building functioned as an aquarium holding roughly 1,500 fish of 200 different species and also served as a Grevin museum.

In its present role, the Chateau de Tours focuses on cultural and heritage activities. It specifically houses contemporary exhibitions of painting and photography. These exhibitions are curated and organized by Le Jeu de Paume, bringing modern visual arts into the historic setting of the former royal castle.

The castle does not maintain a permanent historical art collection, but its exhibition program has featured notable works by prominent artists and photographers. Exhibited artists include the painters Joan Miro and Daniel Buren, as well as the photographers Nadar and Robert Capa.

Situated on the banks of the Loire River in the oldest quarter of Tours near the Saint-Gatien cathedral, the castle is erected over the ruins of the ancient city of Caesarodunum. The 11th century stone construction utilized the existing 4th century Gallo-Roman fortification wall of the old castrum on its north and west sides, which was significantly thicker at 4.50 meters compared to the 2.60 meter walls of the new edifice. The original residential complex consisted of a large quadrangular hall measuring 28 meters long by 8 meters wide, oriented north-south, with a residential upper floor featuring five windows. A nearly blind square tower measuring 6 by 6 meters internally was attached at the southeast corner, containing three or four floors that likely housed the counts' private chambers, while the ground floor and basements were reserved for service areas like kitchens and reserves.

The Chateau de Tours is located in the city of Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France. It operates today as a public cultural space dedicated to contemporary art and heritage exhibitions. The site is classified as a monument historique, ensuring its preservation and public accessibility as a significant historical landmark in the Loire Valley.