Many churches in France were built on the ruins of earlier churches, sometimes in the history of the particular Council can count several such predecessors. The Cathedral of Saint Gatien in tours was built on the remains of three churches – the first one was built in the fourth century, the second in the VI century, the third in the XII century. The first and third buildings burned down.

The construction of the Cathedral, which survived until our days, was initiated in the late XII – early XIII century. In the middle of the XIV century it was consecrated by the name of Saint-Gatien – the first Bishop of tours, who lived in the III century, although the previous temples, at least one of them bore the name of another Saint – Mauritius.

The construction of the Cathedral lasted for several centuries, for a century it has stalled due to the collapse of a partially constructed nave. Last in the ensemble of the Cathedral appeared North and South of the tower (in the first half of the XVI century). The construction was completed in 1547, and literally fifteen years later (a lifetime of meager, especially when compared with centuries-old period of construction of the Cathedral was pillaged during the religious wars. During the great French revolution, the Cathedral was converted into a temple of the new cult, a few years later he was returned to the Church, and then in 1862 received the status of historical monument.

In the present appearance of the Cathedral features several architectural styles ranging from Romanesque and ending with the Renaissance, you can also see the features of the Gothic and flamboyant Gothic". Near the Cathedral is the Bishop's Palace, built in the XVIII century. Now it is the Museum of fine arts. In the complex of the Cathedral is the cloister Pallet or patio singers (XVI century).

A beautiful and majestic building of the Cathedral is decorated with stained glass Windows that were restored on the model of the stained glass of the thirteenth century, several chapels have been preserved original medieval stained glass Windows. They are in the form of medallions with mainly red and blue. The altar of the Cathedral was carved from a piece of rock. The Cathedral houses the tomb of children of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany, headstone which is highly artistic work of the artists of the XVI century.