Abbey of Marmoutier

4km/2.5mi east of Tours, on the right bank of the Loire, are the ruins of the old abbey of Marmoutier founded by St Martin. Here too are the priory of St-Côme, in which the poet Ronsard, who was titular prior, died in 1585; the house of La Béchellerie, the residence of Anatole France (1844-1924), which is open to the public as he left it; La Grenadière, which was occupied by Balzac (1799-1850); and La Gaudinière, which belonged to the philosopher Henri Bergson (1859-1941).