Low-emission zone of Tours
The city of Tours on the Loire River in central France has introduced a low-emission zone on 1 January 2025. Within this zone, only motorized vehicles with an emissions sticker are allowed to drive. If you do not have a sticker, you risk a fine. On this page you will find a map of the low-emission zone of Tours and more practical information. Are you also visiting other French cities? Then take a look at this overview. You can read more about the emissions sticker in general on the home page of this website.
Map of the low-emission zone in Tours
The low-emission zone of Tours lies largely within the périphérique or ring road of the city, which is still under construction. The road in question is the D37. In the east of Tours, the ring road is not yet completed and there the A10 forms the boundary of the zone. On the map above, the low-emission zone is marked in orange.
An exception is made for a small industrial area along the Cher River, southwest of the city center. Here, no emissions sticker is required between the train track, rue Auguste Chevallier, avenue de Pont-Cher and route de Savonnières.
Even though Tours has a low-emission zone, it is easy enough to pass the city without an emissions sticker. The sticker is not required on the A10 that connects Paris and Bordeaux. This also applies to the A85, which lies outside the low-emission zone south of Tours and connects the city to Angers.
The low-emission zone of Tours
The low-emission zone of Tours is officially referred to as the zone à faibles émissions (ZFE) of the Tours Métropole Val de Loire. In addition to the municipality of Tours, the low-emission zone also covers some other surrounding municipalities. This cooperation makes it easy to expand the low-emission zone in the future.
Like most French low-emission zones, the low-emission zone in Tours zone operates day and night, seven days a week. There are no different rules for freight or passenger traffic. It is possible to apply for an exemption, which still allows you to drive within the low-emission zone without an emissions sticker. However, this possibility is aimed mostly at local residents and businesses and not at tourists.
Parking outside the low-emission zone
Although Tours has a good number of parking relais, most of these park-and-ride sites are within the low-emission zone. If you want to park outside the low-emission zone and take public transportation to downtown, there are only a few options in Tours. We have indicated them on the map.
- P+R Jean Monnet: 2 Rue Jean Monnet in Joué-les-Tours, 260 parking spaces, near Lycée J. Monnet stop on streetcar line A.
- P+R Sagerie: 206 Rue de la Sagerie in Chambray-lès-Tours, 200 parking spaces, at Sagerie stop on bus line 2.
- Centre Commercial Les Atlantes: avenue Jacques Duclos in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, 1900 parking spaces, at Atlantes Duclos stop on bus line 3A/B.
- Gare de Saint-Pierre-des-Corps: rue Fabienne Landy, 280 parking spaces, regular trains to Tours.
Which emissions sticker in Tours?
All colors of the French emissions sticker are allowed in low-emission zone of Tours. The plan is to gradually ban the most polluting vehicles in coming years. Older diesels with burgundy (4) and gray (5) stickers will come first.
Other low-emission zones nearby
The only other low-emission zone located near Tours can be found in Angers. This city is located 120 kilometers west of Tours, also on the Loire River. Another 90 kilometers further downstream you can find the low-emission zone of Nantes.
What to see and do in Tours?
Place Plumereau in Tours, photo by Gerard Jalaudin (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tours is a city of 137,000 people and one of the larger cities in the Loire Valley. Although the surrounding area is mostly known for its vineyards and many magnificent castles, there is quite a bit to see in Tours itself. The city center has numerous half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages. The Gothic cathedral and town hall are worth seeing as well.