Vendôme: Heritage, Walking Tours and City History
Accommodation in Vendôme
Since 1986, Vendôme has been recognised by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication as a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire (Town of Art and History). The heritage programme complements this focus with guided tours: they take place daily in summer and regularly during the rest of the year. This seasonal difference is useful when planning your visit. Check the current tour schedule before travelling.
City history on different walking tours
The signposted “Au cœur de la ville” route leads to Vendôme’s monuments. The Parcours Mémoire 39-45 takes a different approach: various information points around the city present Vendôme’s history during the Second World War. You can therefore choose whether to explore the city’s monuments or focus on this specific chapter of its history.
The free Wivisites app offers five walking tours and 63 stops covering the city’s history and heritage in Vendôme. For the Parcours Mémoire 39-45, it supplements the information points with additional content and archival photographs; it also includes an audio version for visitors with visual impairments. If you are planning to use a particular audio format, check the app’s current features before your visit.
La Trinité Abbey and the view from the château
La Trinité Abbey can also be explored using the digital offering: the Wivisites app provides an audio guide, including an audio version for visitors with visual impairments. This pairs a visit to the abbey with an audio-based interpretation. On a different note, the terrace of the Château des Bourbon-Vendôme offers panoramic views of the abbey. The audio guide and the view are two distinct ways to engage with La Trinité.
The market and practical information
At the Marché bio de Vendôme, you can discover fresh local produce directly from producers in the Vendômois. If you would like to include a market visit in your travel plans, check the current dates in advance. This keeps the market as a separate activity alongside the historical walking tours, rather than confusing it with their seasonal schedule.
For cyclists, the Office de Tourisme de Vendôme – Territoires Vendômois holds the Accueil Vélo label and provides a bicycle repair kit. If you plan to use the kit, check its availability in advance. The repair kit can be a practical aid when organising your stay.
Tailor your stay to your interests
When planning your trip, you can first choose what to focus on: guided tours and monuments, the history of the Second World War, the abbey with an audio guide, or the view from the château terrace. The market and tourist information for cyclists add further topics to these cultural offerings.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Lubin-en-Vergonnois, Souesmes, Les Hayes, Salbris, Couture-Sur-Loir, Couddes, Pierrefitte-Sur-Sauldre, Millançay.
For the broader travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.
