Car Hire Saint-Pierre-des-Corps

Car Hire

Situated 10 miles to the east of the city of Tours in central France, the commune of St Pierre des Corps is an important hub in the French railway network. The station is a stop on the TGV Atlantique and other high-speed rail routes from Paris to Nantes, Bordeaux and Toulouse. Largely devastated by bombing during WWII, St Pierre des Corps has a limited number of historic buildings: one of the few religious buildings remaining is the church of Notre-Dame de la Médaille in the parish of Notre-Dame des Varennes.

Who to Book With
Car rental is possible in St Pierre des Corps itself, where there are local and international car hire companies alike, and at Tours Airport, Val de Loire, situated about five miles away. Here, you can find the major European car rental companies such as Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and Budget. Visitors are advised to pre-book a vehicle online after comparing car hire companies here to secure the best deal.

Best Time to Go
Located about 350 feet above sea level, St Pierre des Corps has a mild climate: average temperatures range from the mid-20s (°C) in the summer to 10°C in wintertime. Sudden downpours of rain are common in summer.

Need to Know Essentials
When hiring a vehicle, you will need to present the following documents:

- An International Driving Permit or a DVLA driving licence
- A passport or another valid form of identification with a photograph
- The same credit card as the one used for the reservation
- A printed copy of the confirmed reservation

Have a question? Read out FAQ page here.

Driving
Because of its highly central location, St Pierre des Corps is ideally placed for reaching other areas of the country by car. You can take the A10 highway which goes northeast to Paris and south to Bordeaux, the A85 towards Nantes or Bourges, or the A28 which runs due north towards Le Mans and other destinations in Normandy. To get to St Pierre from Tours Airport, take the D801/ Boulevard Abel Gance and head south until merging with the A10. After crossing the Loire River, take Exit 21 and follow signs for St Pierre. In general, parking is free in St Pierre although in the vicinity of the railway station and in the town centre’s blue zones, parking is metered. Note that parking on the left or right hand side of the road alternates on a fortnightly basis.

Further driving tips are available in our Guide to France.

Transport

St Pierre’s shopping facilities and places of interest to tourists are located close to the town centre and are all walkable. Various cycling routes exist, making biking a great way to get around St Pierre des Corps and even to Tours. But for maximum convenience, a hire car is recommended.

Trains
Gare St Pierre des Corps is an important terminus for the TGV Atlantique line and other high-speed SNCF trains en route from Paris Montparnasse Station to Nantes, Bordeaux and Toulouse in southwestern France. Regional destinations reachable from here include Orleans and Dijon.

Buses
St Pierre des Corps enjoys the same high quality bus services as its immediate neighbour, Tours. There are four lines within the town. Line 5 is a circular route running from the train station to central Tours. A single bus ticket on the local line, Fils Bleu, costs around £1.20 and is valid for a period of 1 hour, 30 minutes after purchase.

Taxis
A number of different private taxi firms operate in St Pierre des Corps. It is best to call ahead to pre-book a taxi. The town’s main taxi stand is found directly outside the train station. Reliable firms include Taxi St Pierre Corps and Taxis Tours.

Exploring

St Pierre des Corps is an ideal place from which to explore the many historical, cultural and gastronomic delights of central France. Easy daytrips include the Loire Valley, the major historical cities of Angers and Orleans, as well as Le Mans and Nantes in Normandy to the west.

Recommended Drives

Loire Valley - The Loire Valley, with its world-famous vineyards, magnificent scenery, impressive chateaux and great options for wine-tasting and gastronomy, is one of the highlights of any trip to France. St Pierre des Corps is the ideal point of departure from which to explore the area by rental car. The area’s chief attractions are the châteaux of Azay-IeRideau, Villandry – with its famous Renaissance period gardens - Ussé (reputedly the original castle in the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty), Langeais and Loches, in addition to the impeccably preserved medieval city of Chinon, a 45-minute drive from St Pierre des Corps along the D751.

Angers - The historical capital of Anjou in the Middle Ages, Angers is home to museums and galleries, as well as the Plantagenet chateau where the world’s largest medieval tapestry series is housed. Nowadays, it’s a bustling metropolis with lots to see and do for tourists. Angers is situated 80 miles west of St Pierre on the A85.

Orleans - With lots of historical and cultural landmarks to enjoy, the city of Orleans is easily reached from St Pierre des Corps. Its chief attractions include: the Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orleans, the City Historical and Archaeological Museum, and the Natural Science Museum, in addition to Joan of Arc’s House. Orleans is located 70 miles northeast of the town on the A10.