basilique st martin tours

Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours visitor guide

Visit Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours, France

The Basilica of Saint-Martin is an important church in the location where Saint-Martin was buried, in the centre of Tours in the Indre-et-Loire department. You will visit the town as you explore the Loire Valley.

Discover the basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

France This Way review: although it is not the principal religious monument in Tours, the basilica of Saint-Martin is an imposing church in the town centre with an interesting history (several relics of the earlier basilica on the site can also be seen), and merits a visit as you explore the historic centre of the town.

A church has stood in this approximate location since the 5th century, after Saint-Martin of Tours died in 397 AD and a small oratory was built over his burial site in 437 AD. By the end of the 5th century a basilica had been built and in the following centuries this was further enlarged.

At the beginning of the 9th century the basilica was classified as a collegiale church, and approximately 200 monks were based here.

Rebuilt and expanded in the 11th century, and further expanded in the 13th century, the basilica became one of the largest churches in the Christian world. Several chapels and a double ambulatory behind the altar were part of this imposing structure.

The church was looted in the 16th century and became a stable after the French revolution. By the end of the 18th century the basilica was in a very poor condition after the vaults had collapsed and it was demolished as part of a plan to improve traffic flow through the centre of Tours.

The Tour de l'Horloge, the Tour Charlemagne and one side of the cloister are all that remain of this original structure.

The Rue des Halles (the road in front of the current basilica) was constructed approximately in the position of the east-west axis of the original basilica, and Rue Descartes (the road to the side of the current basilica) is in the position of the south transept of the original basilica.

Light coloured paving stones can be seen in Rue des Halles that mark the position of the columns in the nave in the original basilica.

The current basilica was built at the end of the 19th century in the neo-byzantine style after the tomb of Saint-Martin had been re-discovered in 1860, underneath a house. The building of the church followed long arguments - some believed the new basilica should be rebuilt in the same location and with the same dimensions as the original, with the Rue des Halles being closed and built on.

This plan was ultimately rejected and the basilica we see today is much smaller than the original.

The photo above shows the layout and size of the original basilica of Saint-Martin - I have outlined the area in red to make it more visible. This also helps to understand where the Tour de l'Horloge and the Tour Charlemagne were in the original church.

The current basilica of Saint-Martin is oriented north-south instead of the original east-west (which is much more common in churches) because of the constraints of the land available.

There is a large bronze statue of Saint-Martin blessing the town from the top of the dome, recently restored, and an engraving on the facade that celebrates the town having Saint-Martin as patron.

The church is typical of neo-byzantine churches from this period. The interior of the basilica has a main nave, separated from two side naves by rows of columns in polished granite, and a large painted dome above the transept with a row of windows to allow light to enter the structure.

Inside the crypt of the basilica you can see a replica of the tomb of Saint-Martin, although most of his relics are no longer in the church.

There is no charge to enter the basilica of Saint-Martin when you visit Tours.

Attractions nearby

The principal historic religious monument in the town is the Tours Cathedral with the La Psalette Cloisters . For other highlights see the Tours city guide .

See more churches in France . You can find more travel ideas in the Indre-et-Loire guide and the Loire Valley guide .

Photos of Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

Click any picture to start the gallery

Arrange a visit to Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

Book hotels, car hire and flights.

• Book a visit

Hotels in Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours

Booking.com: best prices

For great prices on car hire throughout France and Corsica please visit our recommended partner at RentalCars.com

Reserve excursions

Map of basilica of saint-martin in tours and places nearby, visit near basilica of saint-martin in tours with france this way reviews.

Tours is a large important town with numerous monuments, gardens and medieval buildings, and is also well placed to explore the west of the Loire Valley

Tours Cathedral and La Psalette Cloisters

The la Psalette cloister and the cathedral of Tours together make a very impressive religious monument with various architectural styles

Chateau de Villandry

The rooms at Chateau de Villandry can be explored, but it is the world famous French style gardens here that will hold your attention the longest

Azay-le-Rideau

The village of Azay-le-Rideau is best known for its castle but also has a pleasant centre with a historic church and mill to explore

Langeais is a small town with a pretty town centre, best known for the castle in the town

Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau

Not the most luxurious or largest castle in the region, it is the beauty and waterside location that gives the Chateau d'Azay-le Rideau its special charm

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Indre-et-Loire

The French version of this page is at Basilica of Saint-Martin in Tours (Francais)

French Places

We can help you visit any town, village or region of France...

Popular & Useful

① Ideas & inspiration ② Maps of France ③ Explore by region ④ Route planner ⑤ Places (by dept.)

France This Way copyright 2006 - 2024

• Cookies & privacy
• Index of places

Tours – Basilica St Martin – Loire Valley

Tours, the city of st-martin.

Tours, the former capital of Touraine, suffered massive destruction during WWII. 

The historical district, however, was rebuilt stone by stone around the Basilica of Saint-Martin.

Tours is considered the cradle of French Christianity and remained for centuries under the patronage of the kings of France.

It also remained the focus of the territorial disputes that opposed the French to the English during the Middle Ages.

An important University Town, present day Tours is also a major trade centre for the Centre-Ouest area.

The history of Tours started 2000 years ago…

From a Gallic village, it grew into the Gallo-Roman Caesarodunum – Caesar’s Hill, a prosperous city that spread over 40 hectares.

The inhabitants lived in peace until the barbarian invasions of the 3rd century AD, when they demolished their amphitheatre in order to build a rampart. 

Some remains of this wall are still visible near the cathedral.

Caesarodunum was the centre of the Roman province that included the current Touraine , Maine, Anjou and Brittany regions.

The city was renamed Turones in 372AD.

Legend of St. Martin

St. Martin was a Roman legionary who converted to Christianity.

He became famous after splitting his cloak in half and sharing it with a beggar.

St. Martin founded his first monastery in Ligugé in Poitou and became bishop of Tours in 372AD.

Turones became also known as the City of St. Martin.

A talented preacher, he devoted his life converting people, destroying their pagan idols and temples and replacing them with chapels and churches. 

He later built the monastery of Marmoutier near Tours.

St. Martin died in Candé near Saumur in November 397AD.

However, the two monasteries quarrelled about his place of burial!

The monks of Marmoutier stole his coffin during the night while the monks of Ligurgé slept, and brought it back by boat to Tours.

However, a unusual event occurred during this trip. 

The trees on the river banks indeed began to bloom miraculously in the middle of autumn!

Since that time, this phenomenon resulting from exceptional mild temperatures that stimulate very early flowering, has been known as Eté de la St. Martin – S. Martin’s Summer.

A major religious centre under the patronage of the French kings

The basilica was erected in 471AD over the tomb of St. Martin.

Circa 496AD, Clovis the first king of France, came to meditate on the tomb of St. Martin. 

He vowed to convert to Christianity if he won his battle against the Germanic tribe Alemanni .

He defeated them in Tolbiac , then the Visigoths in Vouillé near Poitiers.

Clovis was baptised in 498AD. He returned to Tours to give thanks to St. Martin for his victories.

He offered financial and material support to the monastery, starting a long tradition faithfully honoured by its descendants. 

Tours became a prosperous city and an influential religious centre.

Gregory of Tours

The city’s prestige increased with the arrival of Grégoire , a young priest born in an aristocratic Gallo-Roman family of Auvergne .

Grégoire suffered from poor health, but was cured after praying at the tomb of St. Martin. 

As a result, he devoted his life to the saint, and settled in the Abbey of Tours where he became bishop 10 years later.

A man of religion, but also a historian, Gregory of Tours  (538-594) wrote several books.

His History of the Franks is still the primary source of information on the Merovingian dynasty !

Alcuin of Tours

Emperor Charlemagne invited the Anglo-Saxon monk Alcuin to Tours in 796AD.

Alcuin enhanced the prestige of the abbey.

 He indeed reformed the monastic school and founded the university, which attracted students from all Europe.

Tours the City of St. Martin had therefore become a major intellectual and artistic centre. 

It kept thriving after the death of Alcuin in 804AD.

A religious council met in Tours few years later and ruled that the Bible should be written in French instead of Latin, in order to reach a wider audience. 

This masterpiece is known as Bible of Alcuin.

Hugues Capet, Honorary abbot of St. Martin

The Norman invasions of the 9th century put an end to this brilliant era.

The city was sacked. The relics of St. Martin, however, were safely transported to Auvergne.

By the beginning of the 10th century, the new town of Martinopolis (the future Châteauneuf ) had developed outside the cathedral’s enclosure.

In 987, Hugues Capet (941-996), Count of Orléans and Honorary abbot of St. Martin, was elected King of the Kingdom of France. 

He took his surname from St. Martin’s cloak ( Cappa in Latin).

His descendants honoured their role as protectors of the Christian Church. 

They endowed the abbey with generous donations of money and fiefdoms and allowed it therefore to remain a major spiritual and intellectual centre.

Tragically, the abbey and Martinopolis were completely destroyed by fire in 997.

A city in the heart of the French-English conflict

The County of Tours became English when the Count of Anjou Henry II Plantagenêt became King of England in 1154.

In 1025, King Philippe-Auguste re-seized Tours which then entered a long period of prosperity and peace. 

The currency of Tours, the Denier Tournois , even became the official currency of the French Kingdom.

Touraine was formally annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1259.

The 14th and 15th centuries were marked by the terrible Black Death and the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).

In 1429 Joan of Arc sojourned in Tours, while waiting for her armour to be ready.

In 1444, the victorious Charles VII signed the treaty of Tours with Henry VI.

Tours from the Wars of Religion to the French Revolution

During the 16th century, Protestant ideology attracted the city’s intellectuals, artists and craftsmen.

However, this religious war ended in a bloodbath, when the Protestants sacked the abbey as the Catholics retaliated.

Once the Wars of Religion over, Henry IV withdrew to Tours with the Parliament and once again made the city the capital of the kingdom.

The city’s demography and economy steadily increased, until the king decided to return to Paris with his Court.

New districts had indeed grown out of the city’s boundaries and a new perimeter wall had been built. 

The current Boulevards Heurteloup and Béranger replace this rampart.

The absence of the royal court had an undeniable negative impact on the political and administrative activity of the city.

Revival of Tours

Local economy was re-launched in the 1850s with the construction of the railway line Tours-Orléans and station at St-Pierre-des-Corps in the city’s eastern outskirts.

The writer Honoré de Balzac, who was born in Tours, made the Loire Valley the main setting for his work, La Comédie Humaine. 

Tours returned momentarily on the front of the political scene when it was chosen as seat of the Government of National Defence from 12th September to 9th December 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War .

The 20th century brought its share of devastation, as the most of the city was bombed during the WWII.

Today, the former capital of the County of Touraine is a large city, which has grown well beyond the limits of the ancient Turones .

Numerous industries, including the manufacture of tires Michelin or the weaver Jacquard, stimulates the city’s prosperity and economy.

An important university town, Tours is also a major trade centre for the Centre-Ouest area.

Place Plumereau, the historic centre of Tours

An extensive rehabilitation program began in the 1970s to recreate the medieval city with its timbered houses, shops, markets (carroi) and Renaissance mansions.

1- The lively and pedestrian Place Plumereau is bordered with timbered houses. It is renowned for its Carroi aux Chapeaux – hats market.

2- The nearby Place St-Pierre-le-Puellier was named after the vestiges of the Romanesque church.

3- Excavations have unearthed the foundations of the Gallo-Roman wall erected during the 1st century AD, as well as two cemeteries dating from the 11th and 13th centuries.

4- The 19th century Hôtel Raimbault houses the Musée du Gemmail, which exhibits an unusual collection of non-leaded stained-glass windows.

5- The Centre d’Etudes de Langues Vivantes – Study of Modern Languages was founded in the Maison de Tristan .

The 15th century mansion boasts an unusual pierced gable.

6- The facade of the Hôtel Gouin is all that is left of the original 16th century mansion. 

The Hôtel Gouïn was initially designed for a wealthy silk merchant named Gardette .

It was the first private French Renaissance building erected in Touraine. 

The Gouïn, a prosperous family of bankers, bought the mansion in 1738.

The mansions was burned and almost entirely destroyed in 1940.

The vestiges were listed as National Heritage in 1941 and entirely restored from 1950 to 1960. 

It is now home to the Musée Régional d’Archéologie – Regional Museum of Archaeology.

St. Martin Basilica

In the 9th century, the Normans ransacked the chapel erected over St. Martin’s tomb.

The basilica was erected on the site during the 11th century. It was enlarged during the 13th century, but was sacked by the Protestants during the Wars of Religion.

The ruins were demolished during the 19th century to open the Rue des Halles.

The only remnants of the medieval basilica are the Tour Charlemagne and the Tour de l’Horloge (Clock Tower).

The Byzantine Nouvelle-Basilique-St-Martin was built between 1886 and 1924 on the transept of the old basilica. The shrine of St. Martin was placed in the crypt.

The nearby Chapelle St. Jean houses the Musée St. Martin which relates the story of the basilica.

N.B. It takes a whole day to fully discover the historic city!

Department of Indre-et-Loire Coordinates Tours: Lat 47.393031 – Long 0.683534

Centre Val de Loire- Latest content

Chateau de Serrant in the Loire Valley

Chateau de Valencay, a small Chambord

Maison Picassiette, the ceramic house

Loire Valley, the Royal Valley

The Catholic Travel Guide

Tours, France: Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours

About saint martin of tours:.

He was the born in 316 AD and was a convert to the Faith. He was first French saint to be canonized who was not a martyr.

He founded the first monastery in France near Poitiers, about 70 miles south of Tours, and was later made Bishop of Tours.

After his death in 397 AD, his body was brought to Tours on a cold November day and the story is told that the sun shone and flowers bloomed, which later came to be called the “Summer of Saint Martin” . Over 2,000 Religious gathered for his funeral. Pilgrimages were held to his burial site at the Basilica in Tours, and it also became a popular resting spot for those making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela from the Southwest part of France.

We celebrate the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours on November 11 .

About the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours:

His cloak was preserved in a building called a capella, from which our word chapel comes. The original church where he was buried was destroyed during the French revolution but has now been replaced with an even larger one.

In one of of the windows (bay 20) in the Chartres Cathedral , you will find a beautiful window with scenes depicting the life of Saint Martin. He is one of four patron saints of France and has many churches both here and throughout the world named in his honor.

Traveling to Tours:

Tours is about 150 miles Southwest of Paris.  You can book day trips from Paris that include a visit to the Basilica, a wine tasting and more.

Tours is also easily accessible by train from Paris or other major French cities. If you are traveling from Paris, the high-speed TGV trains (from Montparnasse Station) will get you there in a little over one hour, or the regional trains (from Austerlitz station) will take about two hours, so you can actually make this a day trip if you wish.

Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here.

The train station is about one-half mile from the Basilica.

Address: 7 Rue Baleschoux, 37000 Tours

GPS coordinates: 47° 23′ 34.1844” N, 0° 40′ 58.8504” E

Tel:     +33 02 47 05 63 87 Fax: +33 02 47 05 23 51

email: use the contact form on their website

Click here for the official website of the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours (in French).

Click here to find hotels & restaurants in Tours, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

If you are traveling in the U.S. state of Louisiana, we suggest you visit the Church of St. Martin de Tours in Saint Martinsville, Louisiana.

⇐ Back to Catholic shrines and places of interest in France

Leave a comment cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Basilique St-Martin

In the Middle Ages, Tours was an important pilgrimage city thanks to the relics of soldier-turned-evangelist St Martin (c 317–97). In the 5th century a basilica was constructed above his tomb; in the 13th century it was replaced by an enormous Romanesque church, of which only two towers, Tour Charlemagne and Tour de l’Horloge , remain. Modern-day Basilique St-Martin, a domed, neo-Byzantine structure, was built from 1886 to 1925.

rue Descartes

Get In Touch

https://www.basiliquesaintmartin.fr

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Château de Chenonceau

18.77 MILES

Spanning the languid Cher River atop a graceful arched bridge, Chenonceau is one of France's most elegant châteaux. It's hard not to be moved and…

Château de Villandry

Villandry's six glorious landscaped gardens à la française are some of France's finest, with more than 6 hectares of kitchen gardens, cascading flowers,…

Musée du Compagnonnage

This extraordinary museum – an absolute gem! – spotlights France's renowned compagnonnages, guild organisations of skilled craftspeople who have created…

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

13.74 MILES

Romantic, moat-ringed Azay-le-Rideau is celebrated for its elegant turrets, perfectly proportioned windows, delicate stonework and steep slate roofs…

Château de Langeais

13.81 MILES

The most medieval of the Loire châteaux, Langeais – built in the 1460s – looks much as it did at the tail end of the Middle Ages, with crenellated…

Forteresse Royale de Chinon

26.03 MILES

Surrounded by massive walls, this hilltop castle – offering fabulous views across town, river and countryside – is split into three sections separated by…

Château Gaillard

14.89 MILES

The most exciting Loire château to open to visitors in years, Gaillard is the earliest expression of the Italian Renaissance in France. Begun in 1496, the…

Le Clos Lucé

14.56 MILES

It was at the invitation of François I that Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), aged 64, took up residence in this grand manor house, built in 1471. An admirer…

Nearby Tours attractions

1 . Tour Charlemagne

A vestige of Tours' 13th-century, Romanesque Basilique St-Martin.

2 . Tour de l’Horloge

One of the last vestiges of Tours' 13th-century, Romanesque Basilique St-Martin.

3 . Hôtel Gouïn

Hidden behind an Italianate façade, this gorgeous early-Renaissance residence – visible through a stone gate – was built for a wealthy merchant around…

4 . Église St-Julien

Most of this Gothic church, once part of a Benedictine abbey, dates from the mid-1200s.

5 . Palais de Justice

Built in the 1840s, Tours' neoclassical courthouse has an imposing colonnade facing place Jean Jaurès.

6 . Musée du Compagnonnage

7 . Hôtel de Ville

Built from 1896 to 1904, Tours' monumental city hall was designed to project both republican values and municipal prestige.

8 . Cathédrale St-Gatien

With its flying buttresses, gargoyles and twin Renaissance-style towers (70m) – and, inside, Gothic vaulting, dazzling stained glass and huge baroque…

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Sacred Destinations

Sacred Sites, Religious Places, Pilgrimages

• Destinations

Basilica of St. Martin, Tours

The Basilique de St-Martin in Tours is a neo-Byzantine basilica on the site of previous churches built in honor of St. Martin, bishop of Tours in the 4th century. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister surviving from the earlier basilica.

History of Basilica of St. Martin

St. Martin was born in modern-day Hungary in about 316. His father was an officer in the Roman army, and Martin accompanied him to Pavia in Italy at an early age. When he reached adolescence, he was enrolled in the army himself and soon transferred to Amiens in France. By this time, Martin had converted to Christianity.

It was in Amiens that the famous legend of the cloak occurred, which is depicted in stained glass windows and carved on capitals throughout the region. At the gates of the city, one very cold day, Martin met a shivering and half-naked beggar. Moved with compassion, he divided his coat into two parts and gave one to the poor man.

Martin was baptised soon after, and with in a couple years his conscience would no longer allow him to fight in the army. After securing his release, Martin headed straight for Poitiers to become a disciple of the famous Bishop Hilary. Martin thereafter spent his time battling Arianism, preaching the Gospel in western Gaul, and living as a hermit at a deserted place called Ligugé.

When the bishop of Tours died in 371 , the city's clergy begged Martin to take the position. But Martin strongly refused, desiring the solitary life above all else. So the town took desperate measures - Rusticius, a rich citizen of Tours, went and begged Martin to come to his dying wife to prepare her for death. Martin followed him immediately, but had hardly entered the city when, in spite of the opposition of a few ecclesiastical dignitaries, popular acclamation forced him to become Bishop of Tours .

As expected, Martin was an excellent bishop, but he did not change his preferred way of life - he lived outside the city across the Loire at Marmoutier, where a monastery soon developed around him. Martin died in 397 at the age of about 81 in Candes, and his body was brought back to Tours.

Martin's remains were enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, above which his successors, St. Britius and St. Perpetuus, built first a simple chapel, and later a basilica (466-72) . St. Euphronius, Bishop of Autun and a friend of St. Perpetuus, sent a sculptured tablet of marble to cover the tomb. This Early Christian basilica burned down along with many other churches in 988.

A larger Basilica of St. Martin was constructed in 1014, which burned down in 1230. This was rebuilt as an even larger 13th-century Romanesque basilica , which became the center of great national pilgrimages and a stop on the way to Santiago . Martin's cult was very popular throughout the Middle Ages and a multitude of churches and chapels have been dedicated to him.

In 1562 , Huguenots (French Calvinists) sacked the Basilica of St. Martin from top to bottom, especially destroying the tomb and relics of Martin. The church was restored by its canons, but then was completely demolished in 1793 during the Revolution. All the remained of the basilica was the two towers which are still standing. To ensure the basilica could not be rebuilt, the atheistic municipality caused two streets to be opened up on its site.

In December 1860 , excavations located the site of St. Martin's tomb, of which some fragments were discovered. A new basilica to house these relics was constructed by Mgr Meignan, Archbishop of Tours, from 1886-1924 . Martin's tomb is still a place of pilgrimage for the faithful.

What to See at Basilica of St. Martin

The new Basilique de St-Martin is neo-Byzantine in style and is much smaller than its great medieval predecessor. Next to it stand the only remains of the Romanesque basilica: the Tour de Charlemagne and the western clock tower.

The relics and shrine to St. Martin are in the basilica's crypt, the walls of which are carved with hundreds of votive prayers dedicated to the saint.

Festivals and Events

On November 11 each year the Feast of St. Martin is celebrated in this church in the presence of a large number of the faithful of Tours and other cities of the diocese.

Quick Facts on Basilica of St. Martin

• St. Martin of Tours - Catholic Encyclopedia
• Archdiocese of Tours - Catholic Encyclopedia
• The Rough Guide to France 9 (April 2005), 564.

More Information

• Photos of Basilica of St. Martin - here on Sacred Destinations

Map of Basilica of St. Martin, Tours

Below is a location map and aerial view of Basilica of St. Martin. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

Basilique Saint Martin

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Basilique Saint Martin - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sun 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
• Mon - Mon 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
• Tue - Sat 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
• (0.05 km) House Tours center garden/parking/terrace 5 p.
• (0.18 km) Ferdinand Hotel Tours
• (0.12 km) Maison Alphaize
• (0.12 km) Cloister SAINT MARTIN of Tours
• (0.18 km) Hôtel Foch
• (0.19 km) La Deuvaliere
• (0.12 km) L’Akan
• (0.16 km) Le comptoir de Mamie Bigoude
• (0.11 km) Chez Tonton
• (0.14 km) Bibi Bistrot

Basilique Saint Martin

Tours and Tickets

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Basilique Saint Martin - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sun 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Mon - Mon 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Tue - Sat 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• (0.05 km) House Tours center garden/parking/terrace 5 p.
• (0.18 km) Ferdinand Hotel Tours
• (0.12 km) Maison Alphaize
• (0.12 km) Cloister SAINT MARTIN of Tours
• (0.18 km) Hôtel Foch
• (0.19 km) La Deuvaliere
• (0.12 km) L’Akan
• (0.16 km) Le comptoir de Mamie Bigoude
• (0.11 km) Chez Tonton
• (0.14 km) Bibi Bistrot

Basilica of Saint Martin, Tours

The Basilica of St. Martin is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, over whose tomb it was built. It is located in Tours, France. The first basilica was established here in the 5th century on the site of an earlier chapel. It was at first served by a community of monks under an abbot, the Abbot of St Martin, who between 796 and 804 was Alcuin, the adviser of Charlemagne. Shortly before this the monastic establishment was changed to a collegiate church manned by a community of canons, but the office and title of abbot persisted.The mediaeval basilica was completely demolished during the French Revolution. The present church was built between 1886 and 1924 by French architect Victor Laloux in a neo-Byzantine style, on part of the site of the original basilica which was repurchased by the Church. It was dedicated on July 4, 1925.

More information and contact

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Martin,_Tours

Address 3 Rue Descartes, Tours 37000, France

Coordinates 47°23'34.539" N 0°40'58.65" E

Sygic Travel - A Travel Guide in Your Pocket

More interesting places

• Privacy Policy
• STOCK 360° TRAVEL VIDEOS

The Complete Pilgrim - Religious Travel Sites

Howard Kramer's, The Complete Pilgrim, Religious Travel Site

BASILICA OF ST. MARTIN OF TOURS

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Tours, France

The current Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is, depending on how you count, at least the sixth church built over the tomb of this popular French saint.  Martin, along with his contemporary Hilary of Poitiers, was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in Western Europe, as well as halting the spread of Arianism.  The current incarnation of this church honoring St. Martin was constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making it one of the youngest major Catholic pilgrimage shrines in Europe.  The Basilica’s predecessors were traditionally part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, though the current church is not included as part of the UNESCO site.

Martin of Tours was a contemporary and acquaintance of the other great French saint of the period, Hilary of Tours.  While Hilary was perhaps more important from a historical perspective, Martin was undoubtedly the more colorful of the two.  Born in Hungary into a family of Roman aristocrats, his father was a cavalry officer, and Martin was brought up to follow in his footsteps.  It is likely that he saw service in battle against the various Germanic tribes that were then harassing Roman territories in Western Europe.

According to tradition, Martin was leading a force near modern-day Amiens in France, when he shared some clothing with a beggar.  He subsequently had a vision of Christ, who recognized Martin’s generosity even though he was at the time still a pagan.  He was baptized shortly thereafter, became a pacifist, left the army and became a faithful Christian.  He served as a disciple of Hilary in Poitiers, eventually became bishop of Tours, founded a monastery there, and became one of the most important champions against heresy in the history of France.

Hilary was the dominant Christian figure in Gaul in the second half of the 4th century, a crucial time when Germanic barbarians were threatening the western frontiers of the empire.  Because of his military service and his ability to rally people under the Christian banner, Martin is often recognized as a protector of France.  After his death, his gravesite in Tours became a pilgrimage destination.  An early chapel was constructed there in the early 5th century.

Because of its popularity, the first chapel was replaced with a larger basilica around 470.  It was replaced by successfully larger buildings in the 11th and 13th centuries.  In 1562 it was sacked and nearly destroyed by Hugenots, restored in the 17th century, and nearly destroyed again in 1793 by Aetheists during the French Revolution.  In 1860, the relic of Martin was rediscovered, and a new basilica (the current one) completed in 1924.

The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is a relatively young but architecturally stunning church of neo-Byzantine construction.  Unlike the majority of major Catholic shrines in Europe, which are generally older with expansions and renovations, the basilica is almost entirely less than a century old.  Only two older church towers, which are not architecturally integral to the new church, are still standing.  The exterior design is strangely reminiscent of many European synagogues of the period.

The basilica interior is impressive, with white-stone walls, magnificent floor mosaics and stained glass windows featuring scenes from the life of Martin of Tours.  The crypt where the saint’s remains are interred is almost entirely new, with no visible traces of the Roman-era sarcaphogas in which he was originally buried.

The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is located close to the old city center of Tours, approximately 120 miles southwest of Paris.  It’s geographic proximity to and historic connection with Poitiers makes it a perfect combination visit with the Tomb of Hilary of Poitiers.  The basilica is open daily from 7:30am-7:00pm.  There is no cost of admission.  Web: www.basiliquesaintmartin.com (official website)

Other Sites

Tours is one of France’s classic cathedral cities.  The Cathedral of Tours , with one of the most breathtaking façades in the world, dominates the city skyline.  Several French monarchs are entombed within the cathedral.

About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Where would you like to go?

Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

About the Author

Login to SpottingHistory.com

Basilica of st. martin.

Tours, France

The Basilique de St-Martin in Tours is a neo-Byzantine basilica on the site of previous churches built in honor of St. Martin, bishop of Tours in the 4th century. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister surviving from the earlier basilica.

St. Martin died in 397 at the age of about 81 in Candes, and his body was brought to Tours. Martin's remains were enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, above which his successors, St. Britius and St. Perpetuus, built first a simple chapel, and later a basilica (466-72). St. Euphronius, Bishop of Autun and a friend of St. Perpetuus, sent a sculptured tablet of marble to cover the tomb. This Early Christian basilica burned down along with many other churches in 988.

A larger Basilica of St. Martin was constructed in 1014, which burned down in 1230. This was rebuilt as an even larger 13th-century Romanesque basilica, which became the center of great national pilgrimages and a stop on the way toSantiago. Martin's cult was very popular throughout the Middle Ages and a multitude of churches and chapels have been dedicated to him.

In 1562, Huguenots (French Calvinists) sacked the Basilica of St. Martin from top to bottom, especially destroying the tomb and relics of Martin. The church was restored by its canons, but then was completely demolished in 1793 during the Revolution. All the remained of the basilica was the two towers which are still standing. To ensure the basilica could not be rebuilt, the atheistic municipality caused two streets to be opened up on its site.

In December 1860, excavations located the site of St. Martin's tomb, of which some fragments were discovered. A new basilica to house these relics was constructed by Mgr Meignan, Archbishop of Tours, from 1886-1924. Martin's tomb is still a place of pilgrimage for the faithful.

• Religious sites in France

Submit Comments

Interesting Sites Nearby

User reviews.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Exploring the history of northern poland, discovering slovenia's historic wonders, historical gems of costa verde, historic site of the week, trencín castle.

Trenčín Castle is relatively large renovated castle, towering on a steep limestone cliff directly above the city of Trenčín. It is a dominant feature not only of Trenčín, but also of the entire Považie region. The castle is a national monument.

History of the castle cliff dates back to the Roman Empire, what is proved by the inscription on the castle cliff proclaiming the victory of Roman legion against Germans in the year 179.

Today’s castle was probably built on the hill-fort. The first proven building on the hill was the Great Moravian rotunda from the 9th century and later there was a stone residential tower, which served to protect the Kingdom of Hungary and the western border. In the late 13th century the castle became a property of Palatine Matúš Csák, who became Mr. of Váh and Tatras.

• When to visit Tours
• How to Reach Tours
• Events & Festivals in Tours
• Restaurants in Tours
• Things To Do in Tours
• Tours Itineraries
• Tours Tours
• Tours Hotels

Basilique Saint Martin Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

• Centre-Val De Loire
• Things To Do In Tours

Basilique Saint Martin

• Address: 7 Rue Baleschoux, 37000 Tours, France Map
• Timings: 08:30 am - 07:00 pm Details
• Phone: +33-247056387
• Time Required: 02:00 Hrs
• Tags: Church, Religious Site, Family And Kids

The Basilique Saint Martin in Tours is a basilica which was constructed to honor Saint Martin, the most revered bishop of Tours in the 4th century. The architecture of the basilica is unique and was designed by the architect Victor Laloux between the years 1886 and 1902 in the neo-Byzantine style. The basilica was destroyed and rebuilt a few times before the Middle Ages, after which it was completely demolished during the French Revolution in 1793.

The must see places at the basilica are:

• The two Romanesque towers, namely, the Tour de Charlemagne and the western Clock Tower which are the only remains of the earlier basilica.
• The Renaissance cloister gallery.
• The altar and the tomb of Saint Martin which are down the staircase beneath the main sanctuary.
• The walls of the crypt that are carved with numerous prayers in French devoted to the saint.

The translations to these prayers can be bought from the small shop at the back end of the basilica that also sells a number of other religious items. To know more about St. Martin’s life, you can also visit the museum adjacent to the cloister of the basilica.

Basilique Saint Martin Travel Tips

• The religious atmosphere of Basilique Saint Martin is a great place to spend some quiet moments, to reflect and pray. Hence, it would be advisable to visit this place with some additional time in hand.
• La Deuvaliere
• Mamie Bigoude
• L’Embellie
• la China Rouge

Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Tours before you plan your trip.

Fancy a good night's sleep after a tiring day? Check out where to stay in Tours and book an accommodation of your choice.

• Basilique Saint Martin Address: 7 Rue Baleschoux, 37000 Tours, France
• Basilique Saint Martin Contact Number: +33-247056387
• Basilique Saint Martin Timing: 08:30 am - 07:00 pm
• Time required to visit Basilique Saint Martin: 02:00 Hrs
• Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!

74.29% of people who visit Tours include Basilique Saint Martin in their plan

• 10 AM - 11 AM

27.22% of people start their Basilique Saint Martin visit around 10 AM - 11 AM

People usually take around 2 Hrs to see Basilique Saint Martin

67.7% of people prefer walking in order to reach Basilique Saint Martin

People normally club together Musee Du Compagnonnage and Jardins Des Prebendes D'oe while planning their visit to Basilique Saint Martin.

Basilique Saint Martin Reviews & Ratings

Attractions Nearby

• Cathedrale St-gatien
• Rue Nationale
• Musee Du Compagnonnage
• Musee Des Beaux-arts
• Office De Tourisme De Tours
• Jardin Botanique De Tours
• Chateau D' Angers
• Entre Cours Et Jardins - Cite Plantagenet
• Cathedrale De Saint-Julien De Mans
• Cathedrale St-maurice
• Circuit De La Sarthe
• Parc Anjou Aventure
• Tours Itinerary for 2 days
• Tours Itinerary for 3 days
• Tours Itinerary for 5 days

Category : Interior of basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

Subcategories.

This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.

• Crypt in basilique Saint-Martin de Tours ‎ (1 C, 12 F)
• Pipe organ of Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours ‎ (7 F)

Media in category "Interior of basilique Saint-Martin de Tours"

The following 61 files are in this category, out of 61 total.

• Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours
• Interiors of churches in Indre-et-Loire
• Uses of Wikidata Infobox
• Uses of Wikidata Infobox with subinfoboxes
• Uses of Wikidata Infobox with maps
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu