St. Martin's Basilica

The basilica dates back to the 11th century and has a crypt and frescoes, as well as the remains of choir stalls from an earlier church. There is a Gallo-Roman room with inscriptions in Latin.
Museum display.

The Romans were envious of the Tarentaise valley with its ideal situation on the road connecting Milan to Vienne (France). They envied its micro climate and they already spoke about the pretty russet-coloured cows (the Tarine or Tarentaise cows), whose milk made such good cheese: the "caesum vatusicum", the predecessor of Tomme cheese.
Excellent strategists, the Romans subdued the Gallic Ceutrones in around 21 BC and made Aime, under the name of Axima, the capital of the province of the Graian Alps which covered part of the current Savoie and Haute Savoie departments.

From this era, apart from the objects that can be seen in the Pierre Borrione museum, there are the remains of a Roman building. After this was destroyed when the Ormente river flooded, the early Christians built a first church on the ruins and when that burned down, the architects of the year 1000 built a jewel of Savoyard Romanesque art in the same location: St. Martin's Basilica. Listed as a historical monument in 1875, it has not been used as a place of worship for several centuries.


SUMMER
3 July to 2 September (building open, go directly to the site)
Open 10am - 1pm & 2.30 - 6pm
Closed on Sundays
Single rate: 4 €. Free for under 16s

OUTSIDE THE SUMMER SEASON
4 September to 2 July
Visits only possible as part of a guided tour booked in advance