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Saint Martin de Tours Basilica is a Catholic religious building built between 1886 and 1902 by architect Victor Laloux in a neo-Byzantine style. It replaces the former collegiate Saint-Martin, mainly dated from the 11th century, which was vandalized during the French Revolution, transformed into a stable in 1793, then demolished after the collapse of its vaults in 1797. Only two towers, the Charlemagne Tower and the Clock Tower, were preserved and classified as historical monuments in 1840. The new basilica, inaugurated in 1890, houses in its crypt the tomb of Saint Martin de Tours, a major pilgrimage site since the fifth century.

The first basilica, built in 470 by Bishop Perpet de Tours, was an imposing 160-foot-long building decorated with 120 columns and 52 windows. It became a spiritual and political centre, welcoming Clovis I in 508 after his victory in Voillé. Over the centuries, the basilica suffered several fires (853, 903, 994) and reconstructions, notably in the 11th century with the addition of vaults on cross-walls of warheads. It was a key place on the road to Santiago de Compostela and a symbol of royal power, with the kings of France holding the honorary title of canon of Saint-Martin until 1789.

The present building, more modest than its predecessor, was consecrated basilica in 1925. It incorporates notable artistic elements, such as a monumental statue of Saint Martin in bronze, made by Jean-Baptiste Hugues in 1875 and restored in 2016. The basilica also preserves archaeological remains, including foundations of the Romanesque basilica and a crypt with frescoes and relics. His organ, dating back to 1843 and restored several times, as well as his murals executed by Pierre Fritel and Adrien Lavieille, make it a place rich in artistic and historical heritage.

The Charlemagne Tower, partially collapsed in 1928 and restored in 1963, as well as the Clock Tower, are the last visible testimonies of the medieval college. Archaeological excavations conducted in the 1970s revealed that the Romanesque basilica was buried under nearly three metres of land, and that its foundations are still partially preserved under the current streets. The basilica remains a place of memory, with a commemorative plaque planned in 2025 for victims of sexual assault in the Church.

Saint Martin de Tours, bishop in the fourth century, was buried in 397 in a Christian cemetery outside the city. His tomb soon became a place of devotion, attracting pilgrims from all over Gaul. Bishop Brice de Tours built a first wooden chapel in 437, replaced by the basilica of Perpet in 470. This sanctuary, with a religious community practicing laus perennis, was a model for medieval churches and a symbol of the Christianization of France.

The current basilica perpetuates this spiritual and historical heritage. It is managed by the municipality of Tours and is partly classified as historical monuments. Its dome, crypt and decorative elements make it a remarkable example of 19th-century religious architecture, while honouring nearly sixteen centuries of Christian history in Touraine.

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