Tours – Basilica Saint-Martin de Tours

The basilica Saint-Martin de Tours is a modest basilica, as far as basilicas go (check out the Lisieux one;… click here). It is located a stone’s throw from the old basilica that had been destroyed over the centuries.

The building of the basilica started in 1886 and was finished in 1924. The outside looks more like a normal, scaled-down, church;

The inside does not carry a wow factor, but instead remains humble:

There are two chapels inside the basilica:

The Crypt

Below the basilica is the crypt. The crypt is dedicated to Saint-Martin who is buried here in a tomb. Saint-Martin of Tours also known as Martin the Merciful, was the third bishop of Tours. He was born in the year 316.

He has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints in France, heralded as the patron saint of the Third Republic, and is patron saint of many communities and organizations across Europe. A native of Pannonia (in modern central Europe), he converted to Christianity at a young age. He served in the Roman cavalry in Gaul, but left military service at some point prior to 361, when he became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, establishing the monastery at Ligugé. He was consecrated as Bishop of Caesarodunum (Tours) in 371. As bishop, he was active in the suppression of the remnants of Gallo-Roman religion, but he opposed the violent persecution of the Priscillianist sect of ascetics.

His shrine in Tours became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The Organ

The main organ of the basilica was built in 1843 for the Bon Sauveur hospital in Caen (Normandy). The casing of the organ itself was made in the 18th century. The organ was purchased by the city of Tours in 1956.

Summary

A visit to this basilica will not take long, but can be interesting. It’s not high on our list of religious buildings to visit, but if you are in Tours, you should see it. It’s free, so no financial issues here.

Click here to access the basilica’s website (mostly in French).

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