CHATEAUX OF THE LOIRE | CULTURE | Abbeys, churches and cathedrals
Listed below are suggestions of churches, abbeys and cathedrals to visit in Loire Valley.
CITY OF TOURS
Cathedral of Tours
The cathedral and the basilica of Tours : two churches in the city of Saint-Martin.
Inside the cathedral, we discover magnificent stained glass windows from the 13.th century : they tell us the story of Saint Martin.
This officer of the Roman army became bishop of Tours in 371. He died in Candes (today called "Candes-Saint-Martin") on the 8th of November 397 and was buried in Tours three days later, on November the 11th : the date of Saint Martin.
13th-century window : the live of Saint Martin
Numerous pilgrims come every year to meditate at Saint Martin's grave inside the basilica that bears his name.
For further Information :
Centre Culturel Européen Saint Martin de Tours BP 41135 37011 TOURS cedex 1 - FRANCE - Email : contact@saintmartindetours.eu
Office de Tourisme de Tours 78-82 rue Bernard Palissy - BP 4201 - 37042 TOURS Cedex - FRANCE - Tel. : +33 2 47 70 37 37 - Fax : +33 2 47 61 14 22
AROUND CHINON - West of Tours
Church of Rivière
Collegial church of Candes Saint-Martin (" one of the most beautiful
villages of France "), churches of the town of Chinon, beautiful church of
Rivière, Tavant (mural paintings), l'Île Bouchard.. And Champigny-sur-Veude
with its extraordinary stained glass windows from the 16th century, near Richelieu.
For further Information :
Collégiale de Candes - 37500 CANDES-SAINT-MARTIN - Website : http://www.collegialedecandes.fr
Office de Tourisme de Chinon Place Hofheim, 37500 CHINON - FRANCE
Tel. : +33 2 47 93 17 85 - Fax : +33 2 47 93 93 05 - Email : info@chinon-valdeloire.com
Please note : on your way from Tours to Chinon, don't hesitate to visit the beautiful church of the village of Azay-le-Rideau, closed to the castle. Remarkable Façade.
Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
Abbaye de Fontevraud - BP24 - 49590 FONTEVRAUD-L'ABBAYE - FRANCE
Tel. : + 33 2 41 51 73 52 - Fax : +33 2 41 38 15 44 - Email : abbaye@abbayedefontevraud.com
- Website : http://www.abbayedefontevraud.com
The most famous châteaux from western Touraine : château and gardens of Villandry, château of Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon, Le Rivau, Brézé, Saumur.
AROUND ORLEANS
The city of Orléans is well-known for its superb cathedral with beautiful 19th Century stained glass windows, which tell us the story of Joan of Arc.
We would like to draw your attention to two other remarkable places to visit near Orléans, city of Art and History :
Abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire
Abbaye de Fleury 1, avenue de L’Abbaye 45730 SAINT-BENOIT-SUR-LOIRE - FRANCE
Tel. : +33 2 38 35 72 43 - Website : http://www.abbaye-fleury.com
Carolingian Oratory of Germigny-des-Prés
Office de Tourisme Val d’Or et Forêt - Bureau de Germigny-des-Prés - 6 route de Saint-Martin - 45110 GERMIGNY-DES-PRES - FRANCE
Tel. : +33 2 38 58 27 97 - Email : oti@cc-valdoretforet.com - Website : https://www.tourismeloiret.com/fr/decouvrir/12-incontournables-made-loiret/loratoire-carolingien-de-germigny-des-pres