Tours Cathedral

Saint-Martin de Tours is a Roman Catholic basilica in honour of Saint Martin. The present basilica was built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style according to a design by the architect Victor Laloux. Construction began in 1887 and the basilica was consecrated in 1925. The crypt contains the tomb of the saint. Until the time of Martin, bishop of Tours since 372, Tours was a Gallo-Roman city of medium importance. After his death in Candes in 397, the monks of Tours succeeded in seizing the body and bringing it back to their city. They buried it on the site where the Basilica of Saint Martin, one of the largest religious buildings in the West in the Middle Ages, was later built.

The church of St. Symphorien was first mentioned by the Frankish king Charles the Bald (843-877) in 852. In the 11th century, the population increased, which made it necessary to build a larger church. Three parts were therefore built, which still exist today: the apse, the bay and the stone bell tower. The church underwent a major reconstruction in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. Until the 18th century, the church of St. Symphorien was always under the control of the abbey of Marmoutier.

The church of Notre-Dame-la-Riche dates mainly from the 15th century, but the origins of the building are very old. Texts attest to the existence of this church dedicated to Notre-Dame-la-Pauvre as early as 920. The church has been rebuilt several times. It has been known as Notre-Dame-la-Riche since 1141. All that remains of this church is the crypt of Saint-Gatien, which is outside the plan of the present church. During the Revolution, the church was used for the manufacture of saltpetre. It was returned to worship in 1798. The first restoration of the church was carried out between 1818 and 1820. The church was restored and partially rebuilt by architect Gustave Guérin between 1860 and 1866.