Open your eyes to Touraine, land of art
Perhaps this is a world that you would not spontaneously associate with the land of the Loire castles? If the Renaissance left a masterly architectural mark here, particularly innovative in the 16th century, the collective imagination of our time associates this heritage with a certain classicism. However, history is on the move, in Touraine as elsewhere: each century has its own references and culture. At the dawn of the 3rd millennium, certain codes have changed: colourful, polymorphous, and a little transgressive, Street Art is now available to the public.
Street Art tour with Tours à vélo
Simon Jamet, a tour guide, had the good idea of combining a guided tour of the city with the pleasure of a bicycle ride: thus were born the “Tours à Vélo” tours! The bicycle offers the advantage of covering greater distances, so you can see more things! Another good idea: it offers 3 different tours, one of which focuses on Street Art. Departure at 11am: The tour lasts about 2 hours and covers about 10 km.
The Suncatcher by Daniel Buren
The street art tour of Tours by bike
Passage through the historic districts
In Tours, as in other cities, there are a few “spots” that Simon will help you discover, but also little nuggets scattered here and there, like the mosaics of MifaMosa, attached to the names of streets. Still no works by the elusive Banksy, but maybe one day, who knows…
Note also that in the centre of Tours, some art galleries in the rue de la Scellerie showcase artists whose creations take up the codes of street art.
A Street Art Park in Candes-Saint-Martin
In 2019, street art was particularly highlighted with the creation of a work at the Royal Castle of Amboise by Andréa Ravo Mattoni, a specialist in the reproduction of “classic” paintings with spray paint.
In the same year, a Street Art Parc opened its doors in Candes-Saint-Martin, the most beautiful village in France on the edge of Anjou. Facing the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, the park of the Château de Candes (or “chateau de Moh”) welcomes graffiti artists, street artists and other artists who have come to “to de-yuppify” the image of the château, in the words of the owners. Fabrice Claval, former director of exhibitions at the Palais de Tokyo, is part of the adventure.
A real outdoor museum covering 5 hectares, the space combines plants with contemporary creation. New artists’ residencies are planned this year, on the theme of “Confluence”. Workshops, shows and evening events will bring to life this Street Art Park, which has perfectly found its place in the cultural landscape of the Loire Valley!
The Castle of Candes
...and its Street Art Park!
Editor’s note: still in connection with Street Art, note also the usual organisation (generally in July, for a weekend) of the “Graffeur au château” event in Crissay-sur-Manse, as well as the Pussifolies in the village of Pussigny.