Tours - Cathédrale Saint-Gatien

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou.

The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170

The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later.

The nave is about 90m long. The choir the oldest part of the church. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the stained glass windows of the choir.