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Origin and history

The Saint-Jean de Beaumont church, located in the southern districts of Tours, was originally a chapel dependent on Notre-Dame de Beaumont-lès-Tours Abbey. Mentioned from the beginning of the 12th century under the name "Saint John the Evangelist Chapel", it was erected as a parish church a century later, reserved for nuns, servants and hosts of the abbey. The current building, rebuilt in the middle of the 15th century (circa 1451), probably retains older elements such as the arch of the door or foundations.

Sold as a national good in 1791 during the French Revolution, the church suffered major destruction: its bell tower was destroyed in the 18th century, then its choir destroyed in the early 20th century. The nave, the only preserved part, was integrated into a private dwelling. This vestige, marked by a large broken arch walled in the east and a low arched western gate, bears witness to its medieval past. The stone masonries and the original partial frame are still visible.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of 26 June 1983, the church illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of Tours, linked to the history of the Beaumont Abbey. Its unique ship, covered with slates, and its Gothic details (windows, archatures) recall its dual Romanesque and late heritage. Today, it stands as a fragmentary testimony of the tourism heritage, at 182 Walvein Street, in the Rabelais-Tonnellé district.

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