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Origin and history

The Place Foire-le-Roi, located in the Saint-Julien district of Tours, is an emblematic place of the tourist heritage. It developed in the Middle Ages as a space for trade and fairs, notably after the transfer of the Fair of the Holy Christoph in 1358. This fair, created by John II the Good to finance the construction of the urban enclosure called nailing, gave its name to the place, evolving from the Fère-le-Roy to Foyre-le-Roi.

In the 16th century, the square became a privileged area for Renaissance hotels, attracting the wealthy families of Tours. The half-timbered and stone houses, typical of the 15th and 16th centuries, are still visible today, although some were destroyed during the 1944 bombings. Despite these losses, the square retains a significant number of protected monuments, such as Jean Galland's hotel or wooden houses of the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Place Foire-le-Roi also illustrates the economic and social dynamics of Tours, notably with the fairs granted by François I in 1545 to support the silky Tourangels. These events, still celebrated today, marked the commercial identity of the city. The square, classified since 1935, remains a living testimony of medieval and reborn history of Tours, despite the destructions of the twentieth century.

During the 1944 bombings, part of the square, including its southern side, was destroyed. In 1958, despite the preservation efforts of architects such as Pierre Boille, two 15th-century wooden houses were demolished. However, the square retained remarkable architectural elements, such as a rare brick house from the 15th century to the 18th, or stone facades rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Today, the Place Foire-le-Roi, integrated into the preserved area of Tours, embodies the resilience of the tourism heritage. It is a place of memory, where mix medieval history, Renaissance and modernity, while remaining a living space, frequented by residents and tourists. Its inclusion in the UNESCO perimeter of the Loire Valley reinforces its cultural and historical importance.

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