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Président / Vice-Présidents / Bureau / Délégués Le Conseil métropolitain est composé de 87 membres titulaires et de 10 membres suppléants issus des conseils municipaux des communes  membres. Le nombre de conseillers métropolitains est établi proportionnellement à la population municipale de ses communes membres.

Le Conseil métropolitain se réunit 8 à 10 fois par an. C’est l’organe délibérant de la Métropole,  le lieu des débats et du vote des délibérations. Les séances sont publiques. Le Président est élu par le Conseil métropolitain. Il exerce le pouvoir exécutif, c'est-à-dire qu'il prépare et exécute les décisions du Conseil métropolitain. Il gère l’administration métropolitaine. Il ordonne et prescrit les dépenses. Il est assisté dans ces tâches par le Bureau. Le Bureau  comprend 30 membres : le Président, les 20 Vice-Présidents et 9 Membres supplémentaires. Il prépare les délibérations du Conseil et peut lui-même en adopter dans les limites qui lui sont fixées par le Conseil. Les commissions préparent et suivent les projets qui seront soumis au bureau et au Conseil métropolitain.

Le Président est élu par le Conseil métropolitain. Il exerce le pouvoir exécutif, c'est à dire qu'il prépare et exécute les décisions du Conseil. Il ordonne et prescrit les dépenses. Il est assisté dans ses tâches par le bureau. Il est également le chef du personnel métropolitain.

Martin Cohen

14ème adjoint délégué à la transition écologique et énergétique, dans l'équipe municipale :.

Martin Cohen est adjoint délégué à la transition écologique et énergétique.

En politique :

Il est membre des Cogitations Citoyennes.

A la ville :

Il est ingénieur, dans le domaine de la transition énergétique.

Lundi 6 mai Fête des Prudence

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Projet d'incinérateur à la Métropole de Tours : "Il faut qu'on tranche sur l'année 2024"

• France Bleu Touraine

Après le Non du conseil municipal de Parçay-Meslay sur l'installation d'un incinérateur, la métropole est toujours à la recherche d'un lieu d'implantation. Le choix sera fait en 2024 assure Martin Cohen, vice-président en charge de la transition énergétique.

Cela fait 30 ans qu'on en parle ! Et aujourd'hui, toujours rien. L'incinérateur prévu de longue date pour valoriser les déchets n'est toujours pas construit dans la Métropole de Tours. Elle s'est heurtée récemment au refus du conseil municipal de Parçay-Meslay, début décembre, qui estime avoir suffisamment pris sa part avec l'ouverture du nouveau centre de tri à l'automne. Les élus se sont bien réunis la semaine dernière. Mais aucune commune n'est prête à lever la main pour se porter volontaire. Or le temps presse.

"Il faut qu'on tranche sur l'année 2024. C'est vraiment l'année charnière. On aura sur l'année 2024, la mise en œuvre du plan de prévention quasi finalisé. En 2024, c'est aussi l'inauguration du centre de tri, c'est l'année du bio déchet, et donc il faut que ce soit aussi l'année du choix pour cette unité de revalorisation énergétique. Si on le fait en 2024, derrière on a 4 à 5 ans d'études et construction. Donc on peut se dire que fin 2029-2030, on pourra avoir un outil à disposition, où moment ou le centre de Sonzay arrivera à saturation" , précise l'élu.

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Tri obligatoire des biodéchets dès le 1er janvier 2024 : quelle mise en œuvre ? Pour quel impact réel ?

Au 1er janvier 2024, les collectivités seront dans l'obligation de proposer une solution de tri à leurs administrés pour les biodéchets alimentaires. L'intention est louable, mais les associations s'interrogent sur la mise en œuvre de cette loi et son impact réel.

Aujourd'hui en France, chaque habitant produit entre 70 et 100 kilos de biodéchets alimentaires (restes de réfrigérateur, de cuisine ou de table) chaque année. Pour la métropole de Tours, ce sont ainsi 15 à 20 000 tonnes de biodéchets qu'il faudrait valoriser en compost dès 2024, au lieu de les incinérer ou de les enfouir en décharge. Sachant qu'un composteur partagé, collectif, ne peut traiter qu'une tonne par an, on imagine l'ampleur de la tâche...

Vice-président de la métropole en charge des déchets et de la transition écologique et énergétique, Martin Cohen, pourtant, se montre plutôt optimiste :

" La métropole de Tours est presque prête, tout est lancé. Certains processus demandent un peu plus de temps et tout ne sera pas déployé dès le 1er janvier. Mais il y aura bien une solution pour tout type d'habitat, pavillon, maison individuelle, habitat collectif dense ou très dense." 

Le principe d'une gestion séparée des biodéchets a été entériné dès 2015 dans la loi de transition écologique pour la croissance verte. Puis la date d'entrée en vigueur, 1er janvier 2024, a été fixée en 2020 dans la loi de lutte contre le gaspillage. Autant dire que les élus ont eu du temps pour s'y préparer.

Mais l'administrateur de l'association Zéro Déchet Touraine (ZDT) se montre, quant à lui, très réservé sur la mise en application de cette loi :

Les objectifs sont ambitieux, mais c'est dans la réalité des actions que l'on mesure l'impact d'une loi. Cela fait 6 ans que l'on prévient les collectivités d'Indre-et-Loire, que nous formons, accompagnons, expérimentons, et l'on est encore très loin du compte. Non, au 1er janvier 2024, il n'y aura pas une solution pour chaque Française et chaque Français habitant le territoire afin qu'il trie ses biodéchets à la source pour les valoriser ! Ce ne sera pas faute d'avoir essayé et prévenu... Sébastien Moreau, administrateur Zéro Déchet Touraine

L'association estime que les élus n'ont pas mis en place les moyens humains et financiers nécessaires pour atteindre les ambitions portées par la loi.

Pour tenter d'y voir plus clair, détaillons la stratégie mise en place par Tours Métropole Val de Loire pour chacun des types d'habitats : compostage individuel pour l'habitat pavillonnaire, lombricompostage ou compostage partagé en habitat collectif. Enfin le déploiement de points d'apport volontaire dans les zones d'habitat collectif très dense, où le compostage partagé n'est pas envisageable.

Composteurs individuels pour les maisons avec jardin

" Cela fait déjà 20 ans que l'on distribue des composteurs individuels gratuitement, explique Martin Cohen. Environ 25 000 habitants en ont reçu un, et d'autres l'ont fabriqué eux-mêmes ou font du compostage de manière informelle parce qu'ils disposent d'un grand jardin. Le potentiel restant est estimé à 35 ou 40 000 habitants. C'est là qu'on va devoir renforcer la distribution et faire de la sensibilisation pour informer les gens. Il faut leur donner envie de composter."

Sur le déploiement des composteurs domestiques, Tours Métropole semble donc plutôt dans les clous. Sébastien Moreau, de ZDT, met toutefois un (gros) bémol à ce satisfecit :

"Il n'y a aucun suivi, aucun état des lieux sur l'utilisation et l'état de ces composteurs domestiques. Or, si un composteur bien géré est un puits de carbone, mal géré, il peut devenir source d'émission de gaz à effet de serre, et notamment de méthane, 84 fois plus néfaste que le CO2 ! Le drame, c'est qu'on ne va pas chez les particuliers vérifier leurs pratiques. Nous plaidons pour un véritable effort d'éducation du grand public au compostage."

Compostage partagé pour l'habitat collectif

Si le lombricompostage est une solution viable en appartement, tout le monde n'est pas prêt à accueillir des vers de terre chez soi, même dans une boîte hermétiquement fermée. Et " nos petits vers sont un peu comme des animaux de compagnie" , sourit Martin Cohen. " Il faut s'en occuper un peu, ne pas partir un mois en vacances en laissant le lombricomposteur au soleil sur le balcon ."

La métropole a équipé plus d'un millier de foyers avec un lombricomposteur, mais c'est le composteur partagé qui reste la solution privilégiée en habitat collectif :

" On en a près de 90 actuellement sur la métropole et on va poursuivre le déploiement sur 2024, reprend le vice-président. Il faut trouver un emplacement, soit sur l'espace public, soit sur un espace privé de la copropriété. Là aussi, on va sensibiliser, informer les habitants. Il faut arriver à constituer des petits collectifs de 10 ou 15 personnes pour faire remonter l'info et trouver des emplacements."

Tous les habitants potentiellement concernés par un composteur partagé n'y auront donc pas accès au 1er janvier 2024, loin de là. ZDT, qui dispose d'un marché public avec la métropole pour en installer, y voit beaucoup de mauvaise volonté :

" Nous avons prévenu la métropole que nous pouvions installer au minimum 300 sites de compostage partagé, un pour 1 000 habitants de la métropole, on est aujourd'hui très loin des objectifs. La ville de Tours, qui est pourtant écologiste, ne veut pas qu'on installe des composteurs supplémentaires dans ses espaces verts. Et les syndics ne jouent pas le jeu, dans un certain nombre de copropriétés ils ne font pas l'effort d'appliquer la loi, alors qu'ils disposent de l'espace nécessaire ", se désole Sébastien Moreau.

Points d'apport volontaire en habitat collectif très dense

Le déploiement de points d'apport volontaires, dans les zones non couvertes par le lombricompostage et le compostage partagé, est la dernière solution envisagée par la métropole. Elle est aussi la plus en retard sur le calendrier légal :

" Une délégation de service public a été décidée au printemps 2023, mais le temps de la procédure est long et complexe et notre délégataire ne sera connu qu'à la fin du printemps 2024 , reconnaît Martin Cohen. Le temps de la mise en place, les premières collectes ne se feront qu'à partir de septembre 2024, le déploiement des points d'apport volontaires se poursuivra jusqu'à fin 2027."

Concrètement, les points d'apport volontaire biodéchets seront installés à proximité de ceux qui existent déjà pour les ordures ménagères ou la collecte sélective. Collectés deux fois par semaine a minima, les biodéchets seront envoyés à La Grange David, à La Riche, dans un hygiéniseur géré par le délégataire qui les fera monter en température avant de les envoyer en méthanisation.

Zéro Déchet Touraine rappelle le compostage de proximité, individuel ou partagé, doit rester prioritaire sur les points d'apport volontaire :

" Le compostage relève de la prévention des déchets, alors que les points d'apport volontaire constituent du recyclage, précise Sébastien Moreau. C'est moins prioritaire dans la hiérarchie des modes de traitement, qui est, elle aussi, inscrite dans la loi. "

Reconnaissant qu'il n'existe pas de solution miracle, l'association défend la complémentarité des modes de valorisation des biodéchets et attribue tout de même, in fine, un bon point à la métropole de Tours :

"Dans le marché qui sera attribué à un délégataire, un volet de sensibilisation du public est prévu. La prévention n'a pas été oubliée, afin d'apprendre aux gens à trier correctement leurs biodéchets et les informer sur ce qu'ils deviennent."

L'enjeu est crucial : alors que le réchauffement climatique ne connaît pas de pause, les biodéchets sont encore le plus souvent mis en décharge ou incinérés avec les ordures ménagères. Ils constituent pourtant une ressource importante de matières organiques utiles, qui permettent d'enrichir les sols, de faciliter la rétention de l’eau. Le tri des biodéchets et le compostage doivent bien devenir l'affaire de tous.

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Martin COHEN

Adjoint au maire de Tours

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Déclaration de modification substantielle des intérêts déposée le 28 juin 2023

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Société : ENERCOOP Commentaire : sociétaire d'ENERCOOP Evaluation : 100 € │ Nombre de parts détenues : 1 Rémunération ou gratification au cours de l’année précédente : 0

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Activité professionnelle : Médecin hospitalier Employeur : CHRU Tours /ARS centre val de loire

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Description : membre du groupe local pour la créationd'une coopérative ENERCOOP Centre Val deLoire Commentaire : participations ponctuellesentre 2016 et 2018 Organisme : ENERCOOP

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Flash infos

En raison de la forte augmentation du niveau de la Loire, un risque de débordement est à anticiper. Les parkings de bord de Loire sont en cours de fermeture par la Police Municipale. Les véhicules encore présents seront déplacés en fourrière à partir de 22h ce lundi 6 mai.

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Emmanuel Denis

Les adjoints.es délégué.e.s.

Alice WANNEROY

Adjointe au maire

Franck GAGNAIRE

Adjoint au maire

Marie QUINTON

Frédéric MINIOU

Cathy SAVOUREY

Christophe DUPIN

Catherine REYNAUD

Iman MANZARI

Christine BLET

Philippe GEIGER

Elise PEREIRA-NUNES

Eric THOMAS

Annaelle SCHALLER

Martin COHEN

Rachel MOUSSOUNI

Bertrand RENAUD

Betsabée HAAS

Florent PETIT

Anne BLUTEAU

Oulématou BA-TALL

Thierry LECOMTE

Les conseillers.ières délégué.e.s.

Armelle GALLOT-LAVALLEE

Conseillère municipale déléguée

Marie-Lou GUARDIA

Jean-Patrick GILLE

Conseiller municipal délégué

Frédérique BARBIER

Christophe BOULANGER

Marie-Pierre CUVIER

Pascal BRUN

Benoît FAUCHEUX

Conseiller municipal

Anne DÉSIRÉ

Stéphane HOUQUES

Delphine DARIES

Christopher SEBAOUN

Florian HEMME

Pierre-Alexandre MOREAU

Antoine MARTIN

Éléonore AUBRY

Maxence BRAND

Sabine MÉNIER

Les conseillers.ières de l’opposition.

Christophe BOUCHET

Marion CABANNE

Conseillère municipale

Romain BRUTINAUD

Alexandra SCHALK-PETITOT

Benoist PIERRE

Pierre COMMANDEUR

Barbara DARNET MALAQUIN

Mélanie FORTIER

Affiwa METREAU

Bertrand ROUZIER

Céline DELAGARDE

Olivier LEBRETON

Thibault COULON

Cécile CHEVILLARD

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Martyn de Tours, Gen. and 1st Baron of Kemys

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About Martyn de Tours, Gen. and 1st Baron of Kemys

Not a known son of Nicholas de Caineis

Martin , the founder of this family, married Geva, daughter and heiress of Serlo de Burci, a tenant in chief at the time of the Domesday Survey in Somerset and Dorset. Martin was dead by 1086, for his widow had already married William de Falaise, who had the manor of Worspring with her.

Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, (Martin) Vol. VIII, p. 530

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FitzMartin

The earliest well-documented progenitor of this family was Robert, whose charter to the monks at Montacute from around 1121 names his parents, Martin and Geva. Geva is known to have been the daughter and heiress of Serlo de Burci, bringing the lands of her father to her marriage, which included Low Ham, Pylle, and Hornblotton. By her second marriage to William de Falaise, which had occurred by 1086, she was to pass to her son and heir, Robert, additional land in Devonshire. From the patronymic of this Robert fitz Martin ("son of Martin") subsequent family members took 'fitz Martin' as a surname, independent of the names of their fathers, until in the mid-13th century, when they began to use simply Martin.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-446427

What is known about Martin is his single name (no surname), his wife Geva, and his son Robert.

Research Notes

Lyte gives perhaps the fullest explanation of the two main proposals for the identity of Martin. Lyte recounts how the 16th century antiquarian Leland wrote two notes asserting without explanation that Martin was actually "Martin of Tours". (Which happens to be the name of a famous dark ages writer.) There seems to be no known evidence, and this idea is not widely accepted.

More worth discussion, Lyte explains that the famous genealogist J.H. Round suggests that "Martin de Tours" may be the "Martinus de Walis" who figures first among the witnesses to the foundation of Totnes Priory. In support of this it may be noted that Geva de Burci's home in Devon was close to Totnes and that her home in Somerset was not far from the south-eastern coast of Wales.

• Cockayne, Gibbs et al., Complete Peerage, 2nd ed., Vol.8, pp.530ff.
• Keats-Rohan, K.S.B. Domesday People, pp.418-9
• Lyte, Sir Henry Maxwell (1919) “Burci, Falaise and Martin” in the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeol. and Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. lxv, pp.1 -27.
• Sanders, English Baronies, p.15

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_fitz_Martin

Robert fitz Martin (c. 10?? – c. 1159) was a knight from Devon whose father, Martin de Turribus , was the first Norman Lord of Kemes, in what had previously been the Dyfed part of Deheubarth. Fitz Martin inherited the Lordship of Kemes from his father, and founded St Dogmaels Abbey c. 1118. He was the first of the FitzMartin line. His descendants continued to hold lands in England and Wales until the 14th century.

http://www.1066.co.nz/Mosaic%20DVD/text/people/tours.htm

The Norman family of Martin probably came from Tor or Tour in the vicinity of Bayeux. The individual here indicated was Martin d'Amfreville, sire de Tour, who came to England at the conquest and conquered Cameys in Wales. It was erected into a palatine barony, which he governed as lord marcher, having his castle at Newport, where the ruins still exist.

He was a great benefactor to religious houses and began the foundation of a Benedictine abbey at St-Dogmael's, annexing it as a cell to the monastery of Tyrone in France. His son Robert Fitz Martin gave the endowment, which charter was witnessed by Henry I. Shortly after the compilation of Domesday he was in possession of the honour of Dartington and other lands, formerly belonging to William de Falaise. William Fitz Martin of the next generation married the daughter of Rhys-ap-Griffith, sovereign of South Wales. William's grandson acquired the honour of Barnstaple by marriage with Maud, daughter of Guy de Brian and Eva his wife, heiress of Henry de Tracey, lord of that barony. She brought him large possessions in Devonshire, where he already had great estates. The family later held considerable possessions in different parts of England, among which were Seaborough and Althelhampton in Dorset; Compton-Martin in Somerset; Comb-Martin in Devon, and Long Melford in Suffolk. --(This name appears on the Falaise Roll).

https://groups.google.com/g/soc.roots/c/lhdDEycYyxQ?pli=1

Special to Martin Researchers who may be interested in Early Martin Lineage. We are attaching the first ten generations listed in our book "Some Martin Families, Descendants of Martin de Tours and Geva de Burci, 1033-1991" which we compiled in 1991: SOME MARTIN FAMILIES, DESCENDANTS OF MARTIN dE TOURS AND GEVA dE BURCI 1033-1993

Martin de Tours married Geva de Burci, d/o Serlo de Burci, who married (2) William de Falaise. Four children listed below, not necessarily in the order of their births.

• A. Nicholas FitzMartin (2).
• B. William FitzMartin (2).
• C. Avice FitzMartin (2), married Lucas de Hoda.
• D. Baron Robert FitzMartin (2), succeeded his father as Lord of the Barony of Keymes. He also possessed the Barony of Dartingham where he lived. He and his successors were summoned to the King's Council as Barons of Keymes, and were Lords of the English Parliament. He married (1) Maud, widow of William Perverell (Purvill), d/o Lord Nottingham, who was a Captain in the Army of William, the Conqueror. He married (2) Alice de Nonant, d/o Roger de Nonant. Three children, listed below, not necessarily in the order of their births. …

http://www.geneajourney.com/martin.html

a. The earliest progenitor of this family is shown in the charter of his son, Robert, to the monks at Montacute, around 1121, wherein are given the names of Robert's parents, Martin and Geva. Little else is known of this Martin, but his wife Geva is known to have been the daughter and heiress of Serlo de Burci. Thus, Geva de Burci brought the lands of her father to her marriage, which included Low Ham, Pylle, and Hornblotton. By her second marriage to William de Falaise, which had occurred by 1086, she was to pass to her son and heir, Robert, additional land in Devonshire. It should also be noted that the surname Martin was not used in this family until the generation of Nicholas Martin (d abt 1260), and individuals previous to Nicholas were almost always recorded as "son of", but confusingly, successive early generations were recorded, irregardless of the father's first name, as for example, Robert son of Martin (father of) William son of Martin. Thus, they are shown here as Fitz Martin (something which even CP gives way to intermittently) in an attempt to simplify their entry in the index, as well as to minimize confusion.

b. He succeeded to the lands which Serlo de Burci had held in 1086, and also to land held by his stepfather. He was a benefactor to various monasteries, giving land at Compton to Goldcilffe, the church of Blagdon to Stanley in Wiltshire, and the manor of Teignton to Montacute Priory in Somerset. He founded the abbey of St. Dogmael about 1118. Not later than 1120, Robert Fitz Martin and Maud Peverel, his wife, granted to the abbey of Savigny land at Vengeons (la Manche) which had belonged to William Peverel. In 1134, he joined with other Norman lords in South Wales in resisting the sons of Gruffydd, and witnessed several charters of the Empress Maud, to whom he was adhered. In 1155, Henry II confirmed to him the lands of his grandfather, Serlo de Burci, with all their liberties. Maud predeceased him, and he secondly married Alice de Nonant, who survived him and remarried in or before 1175.

c. Son and heir by his father's second wife, he was sometimes referred to as William son of Robert son of Martin. Sometime between 1170 and 1183 he granted a messuage and land in the manor of Blagdon to the canons of St. Augustine's in Bristol, and also confirmed to the church of St. Michael a grant of land in Uphill. In 1198 he made an exchange of lands in Combe Martin, Devon, with Warin de Morcells, who had married his sister, Sibyl. While he married Ankaret, daughter of Rhys ap Gruffydd, this did not keep the Prince of South Wales from expelling William from his castle of Nevern, which Rhys then gave to his own son. His widow survived him.

d. In 1209 he had letters of protection while staying in Wales. In 1212 he held Blagdon, Dartington, and other manors. He died while still a relatively young man before 15 Feb 1215/16, when the custody of his lands and his heir was granted to Fulk de Breaute. His wife, Avice de Toriton was likely a sister of Fulk. After his death, Avice married Nicholas de Bolewill and was apparently still living in 1246.

e. As noted above, he was a minor at his father's death and his custody and lands in the wardship of Fulk de Breaute. In 1222, while still under age, the King granted him licence to have a fair at his manor of Combe Martin in Devon, every year until he should come of age, which occurred before Sep 1231. In 1245 he was ordered to take action against the King's enemies in Gloucestershire, and in 1253 he had orders to attend "diligently" to the King's affairs while he was abroad. In 1257 he had custody of the castles of Cardigan and Kilgarran, but in that year was taken prisoner by the Welsh, and his tenants were used by the King to contribute to his ransom. The following year he was constable of Carmarthen. In 1268, being a justice in Surrey, he was allowed 50 marks out of the fines of that county for his expenses. The King's son, Edmund, in 1271, gave him custody of the castles and counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan, and in 1278 he was one of the justices appointed to hear and determine complaints concerning the Bishop of St. David's in Wales. The name of his first wife is not known, and he secondly married, around 1259 or 1260, Isabel, widow of Hugh Peverel.

f. Son and heir apparent, he died in his father's lifetime, being probably in his early forties. His widow, Maud, daughter of Guy de Brian married Geoffrey, Lord Canville, whom she also survived.

g. Grandson and heir, he was aged 25 in 1282, and received livery of his inheritance 1 Apr 1282. About this time he was charged to have no dealings with the Welsh rebels, and in this and subsequent years was frequently summoned to service against the Welsh and was ordered to continually dwell in the Welsh marches. He was summoned to Parliament from 24 Jun 1295 to 24 Sep 1324, whereby he became Lord Martin. In Nov 1290 he came to an agreement with William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, as to the disputed rights in Kemeys. He served in Gascony 1295-1297, and in Sep 1297, while staying at Ghent on the King's service, he made an agreement with John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny, by which William, son and heir of said John de Hastings was to marry Eleanor, elder daughter of William Martin, and Edmund, son and heir of William Martin should marry Joan, elder daughter of John de Hastings. This was confirmed by the King 3 Nov 1297, and on 10 Apr 1298, he was granted custodies and marriages, in recompense for his losses in a storm at sea while coming with the King from Flanders. In 1300/01 and later years, he was commissioner of oyer and terminer in Devon, and in 1304 he was one of a commission to treat with the Scots. In Dec 1307 he was one of the keepers of the peace in Devon during the King's absence. In Sep 1308, after the death of Geoffrey, Lord Canville, he succeeded to the inheritance of his mother. In 1309 he joined in the Barons' letter to the Pope and in 1310 he was chosen as one of the fifteen ordainers to draw up ordinances for the reform of the kingdom. He was conservator of the peace for Devon in 1314, and in Feb 1314/15 he was appointed justice of the West and South Wales and keeper of the castle of Carmarthen and other of the King's castles there. In 1318, he was a member of the standing royal council and in Nov of that year he was in the King's service in the marches of Scotland. In Nov 1321, he and Hugh de Courtenay were ordered to attack any who might rise against the King in Cornwall and Devon, and he was also ordered to abstain from the meeting of the "good peers" convened by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. The following Feb he was ordered to Coventry to resist the Earl of Lancaster. He died before 8 Oct 1324, when the writ to the escheator was issued. His son and heir, William, died s.p. bef 4 Apr 1326, when the Barony of Martin fell into abeyance between his surviving sister, Eleanor (wife of Philip de Columbers and widow of William de Hastings) and James, Lord Audley, (son of his younger sister Joan, who had first married Henry de Lacy, and secondly, Nicholas de Audley).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CP: Vol VIII[530-537]; AR: Line 63A[31], Line 71[33], Line 122[32].

Excerpts from 'The HIstory of the Martin Family', by W. G. Willis Watson, Exeter, 1906.

"Martin de Tours was a general officer in the army of William I, and a bold and warlike adventurer. HIs name, entered as 'Le Seig. de S. Martin', is included in a table of all 'the noble capteins and gentlemen of name as well Normans as other strangers, which assisted Duke William in the conquest of this land.' And it is also repeated in 'the Roll of Batell Abbeie.'

Martin de Tours fully shared in the grants which were made by his Royal master. First he became possessed of lands in the maritime parts of Somerset and Devonshire.

The gifts probably, included the manor of Dartington, in Devonshire, an estate associated with noble families. William de Falesia is recorded as its owner when Domesday was compiled."

Now, to paraphrase a few events described in Watson's book...

King William's generals and lords declined to do battle with the population of Wales. Martin de Tours acccepted the task, and successfully subdued the Welsh population by delivering his forces by sea, meeting minimal resistance. He landed at Fishguard, marched into Cronllwyn, and was victorious at the Battle of Morvill. The Welshmen submitted to his authority. It's noteworthy to say Martyn de Tours timing couldn't have been better. The native prince, the son of Rhys ap Tewdwr, was then a minor.

Martyn built a monastery for Benedictine monks at Saint Dogmael's, in Cemaes. At his death, Martyn was buried there. The monastery was annexed as a cell to the Abbey of Tyrone, in France.

Martin may also have been known as William Martin de Tours, Kemys William Martyn de Tours, Lord Combe-Martin, Martinus of Combe, and Martin de Walis de Tours. In1066 He was a General in the army of William, the Conqueror, Note; A Norman with The Conqueror. Baron Martyn de Tours was born in 1030 -1033 - he came over from Normandy with William the Conqueror....he was a General in William's army and was at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He was Lord of the Courts , also made Lord of Combe-Martin of Martinshire in the northern part of Devon. In Wales he was called Camais or Kemys. One writer said: He was Cemais or Keymes in Pembroke Co. England about 1077. Martin de Tours founded a monastery for Benedictine Monks near Cardigan. This institution was endowed with lands by his son and successor Baron Robert Fitz-Martin (born 1080) and his successors were summoned to the King's council as Barons of Cammaes and continued to be Lords of the English Parliment.L. and M. Collier 1992, Some Martin Families: Descendents of Martin de Tours and Geva de Burci 1033-1991, p. 1. Le Seigneur de S. Martin or Marteine de Turribus. Supposedly a direct descendant of Bishop Martin de Tours, but unproven. A General in the army of William the Conquerer. For service at the Battle of Hastings, he received a grant of land in North Devonshire and was made Lord Combe/Martin of Martinshire. Received the Barony of Dartingham in South Devonshire in 1088. He seized Cemeas (Keymes) in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in 1094, becoming first Lord of Keymes. He founded the Benedictine monastery at St. Dogmaels near Cardigan, Dyfed, Wales. Also named Lord of Courts with the privileges of a Lord Marcher. McNaught, Clark and Allied Families, typescript in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City. Baron Martin de Tours (1030/1033 - ) of Darlington House, Devonshire, England, a direct descendant of Bishop Martin de Tours of France. Founded a monastery for Benedictine Monks near Cardigan.Descendents of Martin de Tours and Geva de Burci 1033-1991, p. 1. Le Seigneur de S. Martin or Marteine de Turribus. Supposedly a direct descendant of Bishop Martin de Tours, but unproven. A General in the army of William the Conquerer. For service at the Battle of Hastings, he received a grant of land in North Devonshire and was made Lord Combe/Martin of Martinshire. Received the Barony of Dartingham in South Devonshire in 1088. He seized Cemeas (Keymes) in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in 1094, becoming first Lord of Keymes. He founded the Benedictine monastery at St. Dogmaels near Cardigan, Dyfed, Wales. Also named Lord of Courts with the privileges of a Lord Marcher.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_of_Cemais
• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~martinknowles/genealogy/people/detou...
• The Monks of Tiron . By Kathleen Thompson. Page 84. < GoogleBooks >
• http://cybergata.com/roots/3659.htm

Martyn de Tours, Gen. and 1st Baron of Kemys's Timeline

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Turn your dream vacation into reality

What To Do in Tours, France (Guide + Map)

• December 26, 2023

Located just an hour away by train from Paris, Tours is often used as a base for visiting the chateaux of Loire Valley. It is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, well connected by public transport to the most famous castles in the area. Indeed, from here, you can easily reach the historic palaces of Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois and Amboise.

Once the capital of France, today Tours is a lively city boasting a beautiful historic centre with half-timbered houses and gourmet bistros. A perfect stop on your way through the Loire Valley!

What to do in Tours, France in one day

Thanks to its central location and excellent public transport connections to the nearby towns, Tours is a great base to discover the chateaux of Loire. This is one of the main cities I’d recommend you to base yourself in, especially if you’re travelling by train.

Besides being an excellent base for touring the historic chateaux, Tours itself is worth at least half a day of exploring. Take a walk along the narrow cobbled streets while admiring the half-timbered houses, the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn.

Follow my itinerary to discover the best things to do in Tours, France for one day. You’ll also find what are the most famous chateaux to visit near the city and some restaurant recommendations.

At the end of the blog post, you can find a map of this itinerary (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites).

What to do in Tours in one day

Breakfast at l’atelier du talemelier.

• Visit Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

Tour de l’Horloge and Tour de Charlemagne

• Have a cup of coffee at Place Plumereau
• Admire Hôtel Goüin

Lunch at Les Gens Heureux

• Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral

Hôtel de Ville de Tours

• Admire the art at Musée des Beaux-Arts
• Take a walk in the Botanical Garden
• Visit the quirky Musée de Compagnonnage

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM Start your one day in Tours with breakfast at L’Atelier du Talemelier or Kat’s Coffee . L’Atelier du Talemelier is a great bakery which offers quality pastries and sandwiches. However, if you prefer to enjoy some delicious cakes with your coffee, head to Kat’s Coffee.

Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours (Basilica of St. Martin) is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, the third bishop of Tours. It was built over the traditional burial site of the saint in the 5th century AD. During the centuries, the small basilica was replaced several times with larger structures.

The basilica in a Neo-byzantine style that you see today dates from the 19th century. However, you can still see some of the remains of the older Romanesque edifice – the western clock tower and Tour de Charlemagne (Charlemagne Tower). They are located just a few steps away from the current church.

Inside the crypt, you’ll find the tomb of Saint Martin.

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Tour de l’Horloge (Clock Tower) and Tour de Charlemagne are the only remnants of the impressive structure of the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of Saint Martin.

Tour de Charlemagne was built on the site of the tomb of Luitgard, the last wife of Charlemagne. The king was so greatly affected by her death in 800, that he decided that Luitgard would be buried in the Basilica of Saint Martin. In the 19th century, the Charlemagne Tower was converted into a water tower.

Although, it’s not possible to visit the towers, take a few moments and admire their structure. Just imagine the grandeur of the 11th-century Romanesque basilica, of which these towers were part!

Place Plumereau

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM Place Plumereau is the heart of the historic centre of Tours. It is a lively square with bars and restaurants, framed by charming 15th-century half-timbered houses. A popular place to sit and watch the world go by!

The square is named in honour of Charles Plumereau, a municipal councillor of Tours, who bequeathed 3000 francs to the city.

Hôtel Goüin

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM This Renaissance palace served as a private mansion of a family of silk merchants in the 15th century. The façade with its beautiful arches is a real masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. So don’t miss to take a quick look and admire the exterior!

Hôtel Goüin is named after a family of Breton bankers who purchased the building in 1738. And don’t be fooled by the word hotel, this is not an actual hotel, but a museum for temporary art exhibitions.

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM For lunch head to Les Gens Heureux . This typical French restaurant offers a small selection of interesting dishes with a unique combination of flavours.

Saint-Gatien Cathedral

02:00 PM – 02:30 PM Tours Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Gatien) is dedicated to the first bishop of Tours – Saint Gatianus. Built between 1170 and 1547, it reflects the development of the Gothic style of architecture. Some of the cathedral’s highlights include the spectacular 13th-14th century stained glass windows and an Italian-style organ.

The cathedral houses the tombs of the children of Anne de Bretagne and Charles VII. Also, you’ll find a chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc. She had met with Charles VII here in Tours, an important meeting which became a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.

02:45 PM – 03:00 PM The last stop of this Tours itinerary is the town hall, Hôtel de Ville de Tours. Take your time and enjoy its magnificent Renaissance Revival façade.

The town hall was built between 1896 and 1904 by the famous architect Victor Laloux. It is the same architect who designed the Orsay museum in Paris!

Dinner at La Maison des Halles

Finish your one day in Tours with dinner at La Maison des Halles . The wine list here is great and the menu is excellent (don’t miss the desserts – the best I’ve had during a week in France).

More ideas for your one day in Tours, France

Museum of fine arts.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) is housed in the former bishop’s palace. The museum owns a remarkable collection of Italian Primitives from the 14th-15th centuries. Among them are two renaissance paintings by Andrea Mantegna, considered masterpieces. You’ll also find many artworks by Delacroix, Degas, Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens and Rodin.

Don’t miss the staggering cedar tree at the museum entrance, which is over 200 years old!

Castle of Tours

Close to the cathedral, you’ll find the Castle of Tours (Château de Tours). Built in the 11th century, this small chateau served as a residence of the Carolingian dynasty. Today, it houses contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photographs .

Church of Saint Julien

The Church of Saint Julien (Église Saint-Julien de Tours) is a part of a former Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century. Most of the church is in Romanesque style and dates back to the 13th century.

Tours Botanical Garden

Founded in 1843, the Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique de Tours) is the oldest city park. It’s a lovely area with lots of wildlife and thematic gardens – greenhouses, orchards, medical gardens, arboretums and many others. There is also a petting zoo with farm animals like donkeys, sheep, rabbits and poultry!

Musée de Compagnonnage

Musée de Compagnonnage occupies the dormitory at the former Abbey of Saint-Julien. This quirky museum is dedicated to the city’s trade guilds. The exhibition represents various objects related to metalwork, tailoring, culinary, shoemaking and woodcarving.

Where to stay in Tours, France

If you intend to use Tours as a base to explore the Loire castles, take a look at my recommendations below on where to stay. You’ll find most of the historic attractions and restaurants in the area between the Loire River and the Central Railway station. So, I’d advise you to look for accommodations in this area, because you’ll be within walking distance of everything.

Perfectly located in the heart of Tours, just a short walk from everything. Also, the hotel features a good bistro-style restaurant and a wellness centre with Spa, hammam and heated indoor pool. Why book – a short walk from the Old Town and Tours train station, heated indoor pool, private parking

Les Trésorières is an excellent choice for an upscale stay in Tours. Central quiet location and bright spacious room. A great wellness area, featuring a hammam, sauna and an indoor pool. Why book – at walking distance to the Old Town and Tours train station, indoor pool, parking nearby

Getting around in Tours, France

Find here a detailed map of this Tours walking itinerary.

The Old Town of Tours is very compact and you can easily explore it by walking in less than an hour.

How to get to Tours, France

Tours is well connected to other major cities in France by train. For example, it’s less than a 2 hours journey from Paris Gare Montparnasse. Tours station (Gare de Tours) is the city’s main railway station. It’s located just a short walk from the Old Town.

Check timetables and book train tickets online at SNCF official website .

Tours is divided into three different types of zones – red, orange and blue. The first two are limited to 3 hours of parking, while the blue one – to 5 hours. However, parking in the Old Town is free on Sundays and Monday – Saturday (between 12 PM – 2 PM and 6:30 PM – 9 AM).

If you’re arriving by car I’d recommend booking a hotel with parking or using any of the paid car parks in the city centre (see a list of all car parks here ).

Day trips from Tours, France

Loire valley chateaux.

The central location of Tours makes it a great base to explore the chateaux of Loire Valley. You’ll find a few of the most popular castles just a short train ride away. For more information, take a look at my guide on how to visit the Loire Valley .

Here are the most famous chateaux you can visit near Tours:

• Château de Chenonceau – known as Château des Dames, it’s the most beautiful Renaissance castle of Loire Valley
• Château de Chambord – this royal residence is one of the largest chateaux in France
• Château de Blois – home to 7 kings and 10 queens of France between the 13th and 17th centuries
• Château d’Amboise – the place where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years and where he is buried
• Château de Chaumont – a fairytale 10th-century castle, once home to Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers
• Château de Villandry – is known for its beautiful French Gardens, which consist of several terraces of renaissance gardens

Blois is one of the most charming towns in the Loire Valley. The city is known for its royal chateau and the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, a Gothic masterpiece. For more information, take a look at my travel guide on how to spend one day in Blois .

How to get to Blois Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare de Blois – Chambord (40min journey). From there, it’s a 10min walk to the Old Town and the chateau.

Located just a short train ride away, Angers is a great option for a day trip from Tours. The city is famous for its castle, the ancient seat of the Plantagenet dynasty and the Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world. Find out more in my travel guide to the best things to do in Angers .

How to get to Angers Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare d’Angers Saint-Laud (50min journey). From the central train station, it’s about a 10min walk to the city centre.

How many days in Tours, France

Is one day in tours enough.

The city of Tours can be easily visited in less than a day. In fact, most of the people come not for sightseeing but to use the city as a base to explore the nearby castles. Still, there is plenty to see, so dedicate at least half a day to this charming town.

Best time to visit Tours, France

If you intend to visit Tours as a part of your Loire Valley trip, do it in the months of May, June or September. Crowds are fewer and the weather is not hot, but nice and warm.

Faqs about visiting Tours, France

Tours is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is worth visiting not only for the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn, but also for the picturesque half-timbered houses. Thanks to its central location, the city is an excellent base to explore the castles of the Loire Valley.

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About the author

Thank you for the blog which covers Tours in depth. We are travelling On Nov 07th to Blois to see three castles and unfortunately all public transport stops on Nov 05th. We don’t have car. Apart from Taxi any other alternate solution ?

Many Thanks -Yoga

Unfortunately, there is no other option, but a taxi. However, there are still a lot of castles, which are are reachable by train – Château de Chenonceau, Château de Blois, Château de Chaumont, Château d’Amboise, Château d’Angers, Château de Langeais, Château de Saumur, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Loches, Château de Chinon and Château de Meung-sur-Loire.

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Bongos, Congas and Cameras

Martin Cohen went from being a starstruck commoner in the court of the Mambo Kings to the chronicler of legends. You may have seen his name on any number of bongos, congas, cowbells and timbales manufactured by Latin Percussion , the company he started in the early 1960s with little more than a fanatic’s devotion to the music.

Yet founding an internationally recognized brand favored by the world’s leading drummers is but a sideline. Mr. Cohen’s true passion is photography . From his teenage years through decades as drum maker to the stars, Mr. Cohen, 71, has taken hundreds of thousands of photographs documenting the world of jazz and Latin music.

His subjects include stars like Dizzy Gillespie and Carlos Santana and revered drummers like Milton Cardona and Carlos Valdez, better known as Patato. He also has countless images of Celia Cruz, Tito Rodriguez and Tito Puente. In fact, an image he took of Mr. Puente in the 1980s is to be issued on a United States postage stamp later this year.

That stamp may prove to be Mr. Cohen’s most widely shown shot. As large as his archive is, it has never really been exhibited in a gallery or published in a collection.

“I was busy growing a drum business,” Mr. Cohen explained, his voice gravelly from who-knows-how-many nights spent in smoky bars and shady after-hours joints. “But I was a photographer before I was anything else. And the musicians I met through Latin Percussion gave me an excuse to take more pictures.”

He has been taking pictures since his childhood. His first shot was a time exposure of a fire in his Bronx neighborhood. Using a folding camera that was lying around the house, he soon was taking pictures in the music clubs he began frequenting when he was 17 and sneaked into Birdland, where Cal Tjader was playing.

“That was when I hear my first Latin rhythms,” Mr. Cohen recalled. “It was something I wanted to hear more of.”

From the Catskills, where he worked as a busboy (when not listening to cha cha cha), to the Palladium, where he was taking pictures soon after graduating from City College as a mechanical engineer, Mr. Cohen documented the world around him.

In the early 1960s, the trade embargo on Cuban goods made it hard for percussionists to obtain their preferred bongos. Mr. Cohen made his own set, fabricating the metal rim in the machine shop of the defense company where he was working at the time. “I was promptly fired,” he said.

His bongo came to be prized by drummers and bandleaders, who suggested he branch out into other percussion instruments like cowbells and cabasas. Mr. Cohen, who was then living in New Jersey, would show up at clubs and deliver the musical goods in plain paper bags.

Mr. Cohen’s photographic ambitions grew with his business. He set up a home studio with professional lights where he took formal portraits, including a sitting with Patato , who endorsed both the drums and their manufacturer.

“I loved Patato,” Mr. Cohen said. “He put his everything into his drumming. And he gave me — a Jew from the Bronx — hipness. I could go to a party on Timpson Place in the South Bronx, and people would be snorting coke, drinking, the real underbelly. And Patato said I was cool. You were admitted to the inner circle.”

His candid shots have an insider’s feel for that golden era of Salsa, when Hector Lavoe was a skinny, grinning newcomer and Willie Colon his partner in crime. Mr. Cohen captured Mr. Puente, backstage at the Blue Note, half-grimacing as his hair was done. He was there at Yankee Stadium in 1973 when the Fania All Stars were doing the sound check for a concert that is talked about to this day.

Not that he could remember too many of the details.

“I probably had to go home and process the film right away,” he said. “If you’re worrying about f-stops and getting the shot, you sort of miss something. But you get something else by being there. You’re not a bystander. You’re part of the mix.”

Though he sold his company in 2002, he has stayed on as a consultant. He continues to take pictures during regular outings to clubs and concerts, posting them on his Web site, Congahead , which also features his classic work.

While he wishes he could stop long enough to organize an exhibit or book, the fact is that he’s too busy working on new media. More and more of his energies have gone into producing high-definition performance videos in his Montvale, N.J., home studio. One video of the saxophonist Ivan Renta has already racked up almost a million views on You Tube. Another features the New York Gypsy All Stars , his current favorite.

“I hear the music of the Balkans and there is just this amazing virtuosity,” he said. “They say I’m very popular in Turkey right now.”

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