Many churches in France were built on the ruins of earlier churches, sometimes in the history of a cathedral can count several of these predecessors. Cathedral of Saint-Gatien in Tours was built on the remains of three churches - the first one was built in the IV century, the second in the VI century, the third - in the XII century. The first and third buildings burned.

Construction of the cathedral, which has been preserved to this day, was begun in the late XII - early XIII century. In the middle of the XIV century it was consecrated in the name of St. Gatien - the first bishop of Tours, who lived in the III century, although previous churches, at least one of them bore the name of another saint - Mauritius.

The construction of the cathedral was spread over several centuries, while on a century it has stalled because of the collapse of the partially constructed nave. The last appeared in the ensemble of the Cathedral of the North and South towers (in the first half of the XVI century). Construction was completed in 1547, and just one and a half decades (time miserable, especially when compared with the centuries-old construction period) Cathedral was looted during the religious wars. During the Great French Revolution, the cathedral was turned into a temple of the new cult, a few years later it was returned to the church, and then in 1862 received the status of a historical monument.

The present shape of the cathedral features several architectural styles, ranging from Romanesque and Renaissance finishing, you can also see the features of Gothic and "Flamboyant Gothic". Near the cathedral is the Bishop's Palace, built in the XVIII century. Now it houses the Museum of Fine Arts. The complex is part of the cathedral cloister or courtyard Psalett songbirds (XVI century).

Beautiful and majestic building of the cathedral is decorated with stained glass windows, which were restored patterned stained glass windows of the XIII century, several chapels preserved original medieval stained glass windows. They are in the form of medallions using predominantly red and blue colors. Altar of the Cathedral was cut from a piece of rock. In the cathedral is the tomb of the children of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany, whose tombstone is highly artistic work of masters of the XVI century.