Saint-Pierre le Puellier Gardens

The Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier gardens

A peaceful stop on the Tours audio-guided tour, this archaeological garden blends eras, set among Roman and medieval remains. The site tells several centuries of history in a few square metres.

From Queen Clotilde to the excavations

In the early sixth century, on the death of her husband Clovis, Queen Clotilde settled in Tours and took part in the life of the city. Very devout, she is said to have had a convent for young women built here, the Puellier monastery, whose Latin name means unmarried young woman. The complex was later converted, then turned into a parish.

What to see

The parish church, renovated in the twelfth century and enlarged in the fourteenth, has left a few visible remains. Excavations revealed Gallo-Roman foundations from the second and third centuries, perhaps former public baths, as well as numerous burials spanning the tenth to the eighteenth century. A true layering of time.

Practical information

The Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier garden is reached from place Plumereau, on the Loire side, in old Tours. Freely accessible, it is a shaded stop at the heart of the historic district.

What do the garden excavations reveal ?

Gallo-Roman foundations from the second and third centuries and numerous medieval and modern burials.

What is the link with Queen Clotilde ?

Very devout, she is said to have had a convent for young women built here after the death of Clovis.