Ash Wednesday) for all Roman Catholics. The Oratory of the Holy Face on Rue St. Etienne in Tours receives many pilgrims every year. Tours was the site of the episcopal activity of St. Martin of Tours and has further Christian connotations in that the pivotal Battle of Tours in 732 is often considered the very first decisive victory over the invading Islamic forces, turning the tide against them. The battle also helped lay the foundations of the Carolingian Empire. Notable people Public service Berengarius of Tours (999–1088), theologian. William Firmatus (1026–1103), a Norman hermit, pilgrim and now a saint Bernard of Tours (fl. 1147, d. before 1178), philosopher and poet Jeanne-Marie de Maille (1331–1414), saint Charles of Valois (1446–1472), son of Charles VII of France, younger brother of King Louis XI Louise de la Vallière (1644–1710), noblewoman and courtesan. André-Michel Guerry (1802–1866), lawyer and statistician Marie of St Peter (1816–1848), mystic carmelite nun Régis de Trobriand (1816–1897), American military officer and author Paul Viollet (1840–1914), historian. Louis Rimbault (1877–1949), individualist anarchist, promoted of simple living and veganism. Emile B. De Sauzé (1878–1964), language educator Baron Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel (1912-1992), nobleman, soldier and diplomat. René Laurentin (1917–2017), theologian, student of Mariology Jean Royer (1920–2011), former Minister and former Mayor of Tours. Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe (1940–2007), philosopher, literary critic and translator Jean-Louis Bruguière (born 1943), top French investigating judge Serge Babary (born 1946) politician, Mayor of Tours between 2014 and 2017 Dominique Bussereau (born 1952), politician Catherine Colonna (born 1956) a French diplomat and politician The Arts Jean Fouquet (1420–1481), painter and miniaturist. Juste de Juste (ca.1505 – ca.1559), Franco-Italian sculptor and printmaker in etching François Clouet (ca.1510 – 1572), French Renaissance miniaturist and painter. Abraham Bosse (1604–1676), artist as a printmaker in etching, but also in watercolour. François de Paule Bretonneau (1660–1741), preacher, librettist and playwright. Philippe Néricault Destouches (1680–1754), dramatist and playwright. Louis Dutens (1730–1812), writer, lived most of his life in Britain. Jean Baudrais (1749–1832), writer and magistrate. Jean-Nicolas Bouilly (1763–1842), playwright and librettist. Philippe Musard (1792–1859), conductor and composer Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850), novelist and playwright. Jules Moinaux (1815–1895), writer, playwright and librettist. Louisa Emily Dobrée (ca.1852–1917), writer of novels, short stories and juvenile literature Georges Courteline (1858–1929), dramatist and novelist Daniel Mendaille (1885–1963), stage and film actor Paul Nizan (1905–1940), novelist and philosopher Yves Bonnefoy (1923–2016), poet and art historian. Paul Guers (1927–2016), film actor Jean-Claude Narcy