Books English books from 2 rue du Commerce and 20 rue Marceau.

Car rental Avis, gare de Tours (tel 02.47.49.21.49); Budget, 2 place de la Gare (tel 02.47.46.21.21); Europcar, 76 rue Bernard-Palissy (tel 02.47.64.47.76); Hertz, 57 rue Marcel Tribune (tel 02.47.75.50.00).

Chateaux tours Service Touristiques de Touraine, gare SNCF (tel 02.47.05.46.09); Tour Evasion, 19 rue Edouard-Vaillant (tel 02.47.63.25.64). Tours from 100F/€15.24 (exclusive of entrance fees).

Cinema Les Studios, 2 rue des Urselines (tel 02.47.20.27.00), shows the arty, obscure and old favourites in their original language.

City transport Bus tickets: flat fare of 6.50F/€0.99 for an hour's journey. Route map from SEMITRAT on rue de la Dolve near place Jean-Jaures.

Exchange In the gare SNCF , or 24hr automatic change machine on the wall of the Vinci centre on rue Bernard-Palissy. Most banks are on (or close to) place Jean-Jaures.

Internet   Le Cafe , 39 rue Bretonneau (Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat & Sun 4.30pm-2am; tel 02.47.61.37.83).

Laundries 21-23 place Michelet; 56 rue du Grand-Marche; 45 rue Georges-Courteline.

Medical assistance SOS Medecins (tel 02.47.38.33.33); SAMU (tel 15); Hopital Bretonneau, 2 bd Tonnele (tel 02.47.47.47.47); late-night pharmacy, phone police for address.

Police 70-72 rue Marceau (tel 02.47.60.70.69).

Poste restante 1 bd Beranger, Tours, France 37000.

Taxis Groupement Taxis Radio Tours (tel 02.47.20.30.40).