A week of Chateaux

Rick has a Loire Guidebook. With a full week to spend in the area, I would think it would be a good investment. PS: it is currently $2 off on this website.

There are a number of hotels between the train station and Place Plumereau in Old Tours. They are all within an easy walk of the station.

Best Western Central

Hotel Oceania l´Universe

Hotel Ronsard

Hotel du Manoir Tours

I should also recommend an excellent chambre d´hôte or B&B

La Maison Jules

I would also obtain a copy of the Michelin Green Guide for the Châteaux of the Loire.

You can book a number of minivan tours from the Office de Tourisme located just across the street from Tours Centre, the train station.

There are several châteaux which have relatively easy access via train such as Chenonceau and Château Blois. Tours has a number of restaurants of note, museums, shopping, and cafés. However, you´ll want to stay within the areas of Place Plumereau, Tours Centre, and the Hôtel de Ville. Other areas of Tours will not be as interesting to tourists.

Tocard gave some very good advice. But the Loire is also a great place for independant car touring. We loved being able to set our own schedule and pick and choose only those chateaux that most interested us. Other than Tours, most of the places of interest are in or near small villages, and the driving is easy. We opted to stay in Amboise for our 3 nights. If we had had a full week, we likely would have opted to move to somewhere on the other side of the Loire for the last few days. Rick recommends Chinon.

We spent three days in Amboise at Chateau de Pray, http://www.chateaudepray.fr/ I was surprised how relatively affordable it was. I know when we went, there was a special offer if we stayed three nights. I did also book the least expensive room. Since we were visiting chateaus and wineries, staying at an actual chateau was quite nice. We splurged a bit and ate at their restaurant one night, and I highly recommend. On another trip we went to Loire for just a day and a half and stayed in Saumur, actually across the street from the train station. I believe it was an Ibis, or something like that. It was super clean, inexpensive, nice people and they were kind enough to give us a room with a view of Saumur's chateau.
In terms of visiting actual chateaus, we had a car which we picked up at the Tours train station (necessary if you stay at Chateau de Pray) I feel like it is cheaper, or at least a "wash" to rent a car and drive to and tour chateaus on your own than it would be take take established chateau tours--my "two cents".
If you have any questions on chateaus, in addition to the Saumur chateau, we went to Chambord, Chenanceau, Villandry, Vezelay, and Chaumont.
I hope you enjoy your visit.

Merci to you all, I am beginning to see what I can accomplish in a week's time.

I agree with julesmessen. We also stayed at Chateau du Pray in Amboise and had a really enjoyable experience. We rented a car at the Tours station so we had complete freedom to explore the Loire at our own leisure. We ate at the restaurant at Chateau du Pray which was excellent and also ate their exceptional breakfast buffet each morning. Cost was reasonable, booked the cheapest room, grounds were absolutely lovely. Stayed there for 3 nights and visited Chenenceau and Chamboard.

I don't think you gave your month of travel. But I was sorry to miss every opportunity for either Son et Lumiere or Candlelight (exterior) extravaganzas. It's a matter of taste whether you find it impure or touristy, but I'm interested because of my professional background. And I believe Son et Lumiere was "invented" at Chateau Chambord in 1952.

I agree that you are better off with a car, but the driving and parking (in peak season) can be slightly annoying. Other posters here (Search box top center) have reported small group day tours by mini-bus. Pay close attention to the opening (and lunch) hours for car rental in St. Pierre des Corps and the rest of Tours.

My opportunity for a week's travel would be In June, and for this trip, I prefer not to rent a car.

Anyone have recommendations for cafés or restaurants in Tours?

Ooops, Vezelay is a abbey in Burgundy. The other chateau we visited was Chateau d.Azay-le-Rideau. Not sure why I made that mistake!