Eglise Saint Grégoire des Minimes (Saint-Grégoire des Minimes Church), Tours

The Saint-Grégoire des Minimes Church in Tours boasts a rich history woven into its very architecture and use. Initially a conventual church part of the Minim Friars' convent, this site is closely tied to the religious and civic history of Tours. Located near the Lycée Descartes, it stands on what was a major seminary until the French Revolution.

The Minims founded an infirmary in Tours in 1619 to improve medical care for their members. They purchased a large plot in the city and inaugurated it in 1621 with a ceremony attended by Queen Marie de Medici. The church's construction began in 1626 but faced setbacks such as a damaging flood in 1628, which led to architectural changes including the addition of three chapels.

Consecrated in 1635, the church served the Minims until the upheavals of the French Revolution, after which it was sold and repurposed, serving various secular uses including a warehouse and later part of a military command post. In 1856, it was transformed into a chapel for the adjacent Imperial Lyceum, now Descartes High School (Lycée Descartes), a role maintained for over a century.

Declared a historical monument in 1919, the church underwent a significant restoration and revival in 1981 when it was acquired by a local family and given to the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, restoring its function as a place of traditional Roman Catholic worship under its original name.

Architecturally, the church features a Baroque façade and is noted for its interior woodwork, executed between 1677 and 1679, which includes a notable seventeenth-century carved oak canopy. Inside, visitors can find three side chapels, each adorned with altarpieces and statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Anne, and Saint Joachim, enriching its spiritual and artistic heritage. The church is open to visitors during Heritage Days, allowing the public to appreciate its historical and cultural significance in the heart of Tours.