Quatier Saint Martin, Tours in the Loire Valley, France

Stay in one of our lovely character cottages in the heart of the Loire Valley in France good wine, good food, river and historic chateaux (castles)
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Old Basilica - Saint Martin Since the 5th century people visited Tours for the tomb of St. Martin. The Basilique Saint Martin was the religious centre of France until the middle ages. This sanctuary suffered many attempts to destroy it by fire, and was eventually saved by the Normans. In 997 the Roman Basilica was rebuilt; this church measured 110m. long and had 5 naves. The vaults were remade in the 12th century and the choir in 13th century on the model of the Cathedral in Bourges.	In 1479, by order of Louis XI, a silver fence was made around St. Martin’s coffin. The Basilica was used as a stable during the Revolution and was eventually flattened in 1802 to open up the road to the Halles. On the west side of Tours was the tomb of St. Martin which now lies in the crypt of the new Basilica; two stone towers remain on either side of the entrance to Le Halles - Tour Charlemagne and Tour de l’Horloge .
The Tour Charlemagne was built over the tomb of Luitgarde, third wife of Charlemagne, who died in Tours in 800. Only the north face is original, the south face was rebuilt in 1928 and restored in1963. In the 19th century it waas made into a water tower.	The Tour de l’Horloge (clock tower) dates from the end of the 12th century; the clock needs to be re-wound every 15 days.
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