The medieval basilica was ruined during the French Revolution and streets were built across the site. The tomb was found again on 14 December 1860 beneath a house, and the present basilica, designed by Victor Laloux, was begun in 1887 and consecrated in 1925.
Martin was a soldier first. Born in Pannonia around 316 and enlisted young, he divided his cloak with a beggar at the gate of Amiens, was baptized, and later asked to leave the army as "the soldier of Christ." He founded a monastery at Ligugé and became bishop of Tours in 371. His feast, 11 November, falls on the date of the 1918 armistice, kept in the United States as Veterans Day; that is a coincidence of dates and not the reason for either. Bold Pilgrim has no dated departure there at present.