Basilique Saint-Martin

The Basilique Saint-Martin in Tours is a Roman Catholic basilica built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style by architect Victor Laloux — the same figure behind Paris's Gare d'Orsay — with construction starting in 1887 and consecration finally taking place in 1925. It stands on a site of nearly unbroken Christian veneration: pilgrims have come to honor Saint Martin of Tours since the 5th century, drawn to the tomb of the bishop who died in 397 and became patron saint of France. The original medieval basilica was largely demolished during the French Revolution, and the crypt, which still holds Saint Martin's tomb, is the devotional heart of the present building. Tours lies on one of the main French routes of the Camino de Santiago, making the basilica a significant waypoint for modern pilgrims as well. Its twin towers and broad dome are visible landmarks above the city's rooftops.