Paris1972-Versailles2003

The City of Tours is located on the dept no 37 of the Indre-et-Loir in the Centre Val de Loire region of my belle France. This is the Loire valley of the kings, and the purest French language according to scholars. I have passed and been in Tours several times, However, I came mostly for the architecture and the history and the wines of the Loire. But again, fell that had not given the merit it deserves to these wonderful monuments in previous posts, and since found me old new pictures to the blog that should be in it, One of the nicest cathedrals in France, Therefore, here is more of the wonderful Cathédrale Saint Gatien of Tours, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The city of Tours is a city of Art and History designation ,been a historic city name to the Unesco world heritage sites. As an anecdote ,Tours sometimes is call the Little Paris by visitors because maybe for its history, the architectural arrangement of its boulevards in the center town and buildings in white stone ,nice and clean silhouettes. Another beauty of my belle France. This is the which is a major work of art and a very intense religious building indeed. The city is linked very easily to Paris by train with good parking and even connection to the TGV station outside in St Pierre des Corps. Wonderful road takes you there easy too like we take the D952 along the Loire river. We like to park by Nationale underground parking. You can take from Paris the A10 or the A11 to Le Mans and then the A28 down to Tours.

Dedicated to Saint Gatien, the first Bishop of Tours, it is the seat of the Diocese of Tours and the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of Tours. The Cathédrale Saint Gatien was built between 1170 and 1547. During its creation, it was located almost at the outlet of the bridge over the Loire controlled by the Château de Tours, on the road connecting Paris to the southwest of France. A perfect example of gothic art, the cathedral displays all the aspects of this period. Built on the vestiges of the Gallo-Roman city, its elaborate flamboyant façade is beautiful under the night lights. In addition to its remarkable stained-glass windows, it houses the tomb of the children of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII, gracefully sculpted around 1500. Dating all from the 12C to the 16C. Of special interest are the fifteen 13C chancel windows and the three, 13-15C rose windows. Tomb of Charles VIII’s children. Great Organs 16-17C.

You can see in the Cathédrale Saint Gatien, the tomb of two of the children of Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne, who died in the early years. The two recumbents this monument was in 1506 in the collegiate Church of Saint-Martin before being dismantled in the French revolution and then reassembled in 1814 in a Chapel of  Saint-Gatien where it was restored for the first time in 1834.  The tomb of the Children of France. This superb memorial in Carrara marble is the tomb of Charles Orland (died 3 years old) and Charles (died 25 days).  The recumbents correspond to the French sculpture of the time. The nave is the work of Italians artists  whom Charles VIII had brought back to France following the Italian Wars.

The City of Tours on the Cathedral : https://www.tours.fr/equipement/cathedrale-saint-gatien/

The local Loire Valley tourist office on the Cathedral Saint Gatien of Tours : https://www.loirevalley-france.co.uk/cultural-sites/saint-gatien-cathedral/

The parish of the Cathedral of Tours: https://www.paroisse-cathedrale-tours.fr/cathedral/index

 The Touraine Loire Valley tourist office on the Cathedral:  https://www.touraineloirevalley.co.uk/cultural-heritage/saint-gatien-cathedral-tours/

 The city of Tours on the tombs of the children of Anne de Bretagne: https://www.tours.fr/page-portail-tours-intense/decouvrir-tours/tours-riche-de-son-histoire-et-de-ses-personnalites/le-tombeau-des-enfants-danne-de-bretagne/

There you go folks, I come to the gorgeous historical ,architecturally stunning Tours, This is a major work as said and on my road warrior tour of the Loire needed to stop by several times. The City is wonderful ,and should be visited and more ! . Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Cathédrale Saint Gatien of Tours, part II !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!