The centre of Tours lies between the Loire and its tributary, the Cher, but the city has spread far across both banks, with industrial Tours north of the Loire.Neither river is a particular feature of the town, though there are parks on islands in both and an attractive new footbridge leads across the Loire from the site of the old castle on quai d'Orléans. The city's two distinct old quarters lie on either side of rue Nationale, which forms the town's main axis. The quieter of the areas lies around the cathedral, while the more developed, touristy zone around picturesque place Plumereau, some 600m to the west, was once a major pilgrimage site.
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