About Saint-Martin-au-Val Church, in Chartres, France:
This monumental Gallo-Roman temple complex ranks as one of the largest known sanctuaries in Roman Gaul and the Roman world. It spans approximately 14 acres (6 hectares) and is enclosed by four porticoed galleries with corner pavilions, surrounding a vast central courtyard over 11 acres (4.5 hectares). Construction began around 70–80 AD during the Roman period when Chartres was known as Autricum. Additions like rectangular exedrae and semicircular apses appeared around 120–130 AD, but work halted abruptly by the mid-2nd century. The site likely dedicated to Apollo (with possible ties to Diana) served as a significant cult center.
The church includes a rare preserved ornate wooden ceiling, saved by a fire that charred the wood followed by collapse into a water-filled basin, preventing total destruction.The sanctuary fell into disuse and became a quarry in late antiquity, with materials reused elsewhere. In late antiquity (around the 6th century), the site christianized: a small funerary basilica built in the center of the former courtyard, possibly linked to the evangelizing efforts of Saint Martin of Tours. This evolved into the Église Saint-Martin-au-Val, a church with origins tracing back to the Merovingian period.
The current church, classified as a historic monument since 1886, dates mainly to the 11th–12th century (with later modifications in the 15th, 17th, and 19th centuries).
It served as a Benedictine abbey church and burial site for early bishops of Chartres. Excavations inside revealed Merovingian sarcophagi.
The church reopened to worship in 2025 after being closed for decades, with plans for permanent exhibitions of archaeological finds.Excavations have continued since 2006 by Chartres’ municipal archaeology service, revealing structures like secondary temples, a monumental fountain, marble revetments, and other features.The site is open for guided visits, highlighting its importance in understanding Roman and early Christian history in the region.
Traveling to Saint-Martin-au-Val Church, in Chartres, France:
Address:2 Rue Georges Brassens, 28000 Chartres, France
Phone: +33 2 37 23 40 00