Ensemble architectural de la rue Nationale reconstruite

The German offensive in June 1940 led to the destruction of several hectares of the historic center of Tours, particularly around rue Nationale, including a monumental structure designed by Jean Cadet de Limay in 1776. Following an initial project by architect Camille Lefèvre, Pierre Patout was appointed chief architect for the reconstruction of Tours in 1946, with Jean Dorian responsible for the urban planning. After intense discussions regarding the width of the street and the aesthetics of new buildings, the first stone of the reconstructed rue Nationale was laid in 1949, with the last building completed in 1962, three years before Patout's death.