Tours

VESTIGES DE LA COLLEGIALE SAINT-MARTIN

In 397, St. Martin, bishop of Tours, was buried in a sarcophagus by the side of an ancient Roman "via" - now "rue des Halles". A chapel was built by his successor Brictius in 437. Before the end of the 5th century, bishop Perpetuus replaced the modest chapel by a grandiose basilica. The basilica burnt in 558 and 800, was sacked by the Normans but was still standing in 994, when it was razed to the ground by a fire. It was rebuilt and consecrated in 1014. Another fire damaged it in 1096 and repaired in the late 12th century. Centuries of neglect and vandalism followed. It was eventually pulled down between 1798 and 1802 except the Carolus Magnus tower and the Treasure or Clock tower, which are still standing after 10 centuries

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel: 'Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.' And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were diversions brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a pained voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel: 'O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?' Then said Daniel unto the king: 'O king, live for ever! My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.' Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.

WALL PAINTINGS

This rare example of a well-preserved mid-11th-century wall painting decorated a pillar of the Carolus tower. It represents St. Florentius* as a rather hieratic figure characteristic of early or pre-Romanesque murals. It is now in a Tours museum

Florent of Saumur, born in Bavaria, a disciple of St. Martin of Tours, retired in the province of Anjou and founded the monastery of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil (Maine-et-Loire). Celebrated on 22 September

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