Tours: Belle Époque and Balzac Walking Tour｜France

Welcome to Tours, a city that, between the 19th century and the early 20th century, underwent profound transformations shaped by what is known as the Belle Époque (beautiful era). This period, spanning from 1871 to 1914, is synonymous with modernity, progress, and economic growth. French cities expanded, infrastructure improved, and a new social class emerged: the bourgeoisie. Tours was no exception to these developments, as evidenced by its major thoroughfares, public buildings, and leisure spaces that we will explore throughout this visit.
But even before the Belle Époque, Tours was already deeply rooted in French literary history thanks to one of its most illustrious residents: Honoré de Balzac. Born here in 1799, Balzac is one of the greatest writers of the 19th century and the author of La Comédie humaine (the human comedy), a monumental body of work in which he paints a remarkably detailed portrait of the society of his time. Through his novels, he highlights the ambitions, tensions, and lifestyles of the bourgeoisie—the very class that would fully flourish during the Belle Époque.

Start the tour at the Hôtel de Ville, where important decisions are made, stroll through the streets in search of monuments that have made its history, and finish the tour at the Pont Wilson, in front of a wonderful view over the Loire.