Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Tours

On my way home to the hotel late at night, I took a break here. From exactly this spot I had taken a photo just a few hours ago. "What a difference the light makes, just a few little hours....."

When I left the restaurant L'Escapade (see previous upload), the "Laverie Colbert" had fallen asleep already.

"Cigarillos de boeuf en tatare façon Wellington" --- restaurant-lescapade-tours.fr/

This is the second tower, that still exists of that large Collegiate Church of Saint Martin (see the previous uplods for the "Tour Charlemagne"). Once one of the two towers flanking the facade, it was named Tour du Tresor and dates back to the 12th century. After the Revolution, when the vandalized and pilaged church got demolished, the tower got equipped with a public clock - and so got a new name.

The oratory, built over the grave of Saint Martin, soon was a "Basilica Sanct Martini". A convent existed here. After Alcuin of York had worked as a scholar and teacher at the Carolingian court, he became abbot here in 796. In 818 the convent became a collegiate with more tham 200 canons. The Collegiate Church of Saint Martin, consecrated in 1014, was one of the largest churches in medieval times. The shrine was a center of pilgrimage and a major halt for all on their way to Santiago. This church was abandoned and vandalized during the Revolution and demolished after the vaults were collapsed in 1797. Only two towers are still standing. Here is a capital in the "Tour Charlemagne", one of the few details that survived.

The Basilica of St. Martin (left) was erected over St. Martin´s tomb. It was built between 1886 and 1924 by French architect Victor Laloux in a neo-Byzantine style. It replaced the huge medieval church, where the shrine was a center of pilgrimage and a major halt for all on their way to Santiago This church was abandoned and vandalized during the Revolution and demolished after the vaults were collapsed in 1797. Only two towers are still standing, one of them is the "Tour Charlemagne", seen in the background.It once rose over the north arm of the transept. According to the local tradition, the name of the tower alludes to the site of the sepulchre of Luitgarde, Charlemagne's wife, who died in 800 in Tours. After the demolition of the preceding church, one of the largest in Europe in medieval times, the tomb of Saint-Martin was lost. It was rediscovered in 1860.

The Basilica of St. Martin was erected over St. Martin´s tomb. It was built between 1886 and 1924 by French architect Victor Laloux in a neo-Byzantine style. It replaced the huge medieval church, where the shrine was a center of pilgrimage and a major halt for all on their way to Santiago This church was abandoned and vandalized during the Revolution and demolished after the vaults were collapsed in 1797. basiliquesaintmartin.fr

The church of Saint Denis, that I had just seen in Amboise, was part of a priory, that depended from the abbey Saint-Julien de Tours. This church in the center of Tour is, what is still left of that abbey. Founded end of the 6th century, the abbey got destroyed by Normans in 853, but reconstructed within the following century. Just like the cathedral, it got damaged during a conflict between Louis VII of France ("Maison de Blois") and Henry II of England ("Maison d'Anjou" / "Maison de Plantagenet"). It was rebuilt and consecrated again in 1084. After the revolution the church was sold and used as stables.

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. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is a detail from the "nativity window". The "Dream of the Magi" and the Magi on their way home. For many pilgrims on their way to Santiago, the Magi were ideals, as they took a long way as well. So it is no surprise, that the Magi can be found frequently along the "chemin".

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. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is a detail from the "nativity window" (previous upload). The Magi on their way, following the star. Their visit at the palace of Herod (holding a sword). Above is the "Adoration of the Magi".

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. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir.

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. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Not surprising Sant Martin (aka "Martin of Tours") can be found. Here Saint Martin cuts his cloak in half to share with the beggar. Here Saint Martin cuts his cloak in half to share with the beggar. The cloak became a famous relic preserved at the Marmoutier Abbey near Tours. The miraculous cloak, ("cappa Sancti Martini") was carried by the kings and used as a holy relic during royal ceremonies. It is attested in the royal treasury in 679. The priests who cared for the cloak in its reliquary were called "cappellani". The word developed - French "chapelains", English "chaplain", German "Kaplan". The small temporary churches built for the relic were called "capella", the word for a little cloak. This word developed as well. French "chapelle", English "chapel", German "Kapelle".

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. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is one of them, themed around Saint Martin.

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.

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, seen here, was finished about 100 years later. The towers are about 70 m high.