Abbey of Saint-Julien de Tours

During the episcopate of Gregory of Tours (573–593), he gave the monks relics of the martyr Julian of Brioude (3rd century), and the monastery was dedicated to him. That early establishment disappeared or was severely affected during a Viking raid in 853. Restoration took place under Archbishop Théotolon (931–945), who, with the assistance of his sister, provided the funds necessary to rebuild the site. Théotolon maintained close ties with the Abbey of Cluny (Saône-et-Loire) and had worked alongside Abbot Odo (c. 878–942) during the early years of the Burgundian monastery. In 948, the abbey church was consecrated. Upon their deaths, both Odo of Cluny and Théotolon were buried at Saint-Julien.

During the first half of the 11th century, Abbot Richer rebuilt the monastery because of its poor state of preservation, and it was rebuilt once again during the second half of the same century. In 1084, the new church was consecrated by the Archbishop of Tours, but it had a relatively short life, as it was severely damaged by a storm in 1224. By 1240, reconstruction work was already underway, this time in the Gothic style. Over the following centuries, new structures were added, completing the monastic complex. In 1540, the first commendatory abbot arrived and, shortly afterwards, in 1562, the house was affected by the Wars of Religion.

The church of Saint-Julien de Tours displays an unusual layout. On the one hand, it preserves its Romanesque tower (11th century), while the remainder of the building belongs to the Gothic period (13th century). It has three aisles communicating with the transept and the chancel, which is of the same width. This eastern section comprises five aisles: the three central ones corresponding to those of the church and two additional aisles on either side, all divided into three bays. There is no central apse, and the chancel ends in a flat east end, an unusual arrangement whose origin has not been explained with certainty. The outer aisles terminate in two apses added in the 16th century. Of the remaining monastic buildings, the chapter house deserves particular mention, together with other secondary structures.