Collégiale Saint Martin et Tour Charlemagne — Attraction in Tours

Oh my Goodness!!!! Charlemagne died in 800 in this town, shortly thereafter the Carolingians started on this tower. Reported finish date is around 1000AD. Which makes sense with the unique Norman architectural elements ( short arches, Norman style edging similar to embroidery on the arches, pillars; solid, Romanesque original construction which looks a great deal like Norman/Lombard towers you will see in middle Italy and Sicily. The tower at Formia, north of Naples italy shares many charachteristics. Later modifications are easy to see. Buttresses, etc. It is an Absolute Tragedy the Original Romanesque Accompanied Church did not make it through the French Revolution. It must have been equally Immense, and keenly Crafted. The tower finally had almost 1/2 fall from neglect, absusive use as a lead Smeltery, carpenter shop, etc. Thank The Good Lord it was restored. ...

We enjoyed seeing this 48 metre tall, 11th-century tower that was once part of a medieval basilica that was demolished during the French Revolution. It is across a small street and clearly separate to the present day late 19th-century basilica.

Sadly the tower, being separated from the original church began to lose its structural integrity and partially collapsed in 1926. Various 20th-century restorations finally managed to reconstruct the tour, which is considered a National Monument, to what you see today. Information panels (French & English) next to the tower detail much of this history and is worth a read if interested in the building and...

Le croisement de la rue des Halles avec la rue Descartes se trouve à la place de la première travée du bras septentrional du transept de l’ancienne Collégiale Saint Martin. La Tour Charlemagne est celle qui terminait ce transept au nord. Elle tire son nom de ce qu’elle fut construite au dessus du tombeau de Luitgarde, cinquième épouse de Charlemagne morte à Tours. Le 26 mars 1928 à 8heures du soir, la moitié méridionale de la tour lézardée depuis longtemps s’est écroulée. Cette tour fut élevée dans le cours du onzième siècle sitôt après l’achèvement de la basilique d’Hervé consacrée en 1014, dont primitivement le croisillon comprenait deux collatéraux reliés par une tribune appuyée au mur pignon. La tour fut construite en chevauchant ce mur, moitié superposée à La Tribune, moitié sur l’extérieur, pour fermer le porche au rez-de-chaussée. Littérature : R. Ranjard, La Touraine archéologique, 1968. Joseph Floch, imprimeur -...