Saint Gatien’s Cathedral – The Children of Anne of Brittany

The first cathedral on this site was built from 337 to 371 but burned down in 561. It was restored and rededicated in 590. It was completely rebuilt in the 12th century and again burned down in 1166. The building of the current cathedral began as early as 1170. Construction took place well into the 16th century. It then also received its current name, “Saint Gatien’s Cathedral.”

One of the cathedral’s treasures is a Carrara marble tomb made by Girolamo da Fiesole, which was moved here from Saint-Martin de Tours in 1834. This tomb contains several of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII’s children. The children are Charles Orland, Dauphin of France, Charles, Dauphin of France, Francis, Dauphin of France and Anne of France. None of Anne and Charles’s children survived to adulthood. From her second marriage to Louis XII of France, she became pregnant nine times, but she had only two surviving daughters, who could not inherit the French throne.

Radegonde of France, a daughter of Marie of Anjou and Charles VII, who died at the age of 16, is also buried in Saint Gatien’s Cathedral. However, I was unable to locate her grave—if it even still exists!