Chatea or Logis Royale .Click on image for slideshow.
The castle would become a favourite residence of Charles VII who gave it to his mistress, Agnes Sorel as her residence.
It would be converted for use as a state prison by his son, Louis XI who had lived there as a child but preferred the chateau at Amboise as a residence -- spoilt for choice really.
It was in the great hall (right), in June 1429, that Joan of Arc, on her way back from relieving the English siege at Orleans, came to find Charles VII and convinced him to go to Reims in order to be crowned.
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Ancient depiction of the city with the Chateau at left, the Cathedral in the centre & the dungeon on the right. Click on picture for slideshow of the Cathedral.
The 11th/12th century church of Saint Ours' commanding position overlooking the medieval town of Loches means that its four towers are visible from almost any location within the town. This location, within the citadel walls, has been the home to a place of worship since the 5th century but it was not until the 6th when St.Ours founded a monastery here that the town slowly began to grow around it. |
There has been a fortification on this site since the Romans built the first one in the third century.
This was one of a number of strongholds built by the formidable Count of Anjou, in the 10th century. by the Count D'Anjou.
His descendant, Henry Plantagenet (Henry II), inherited the English throne in 1154 and adding this to his territories in Franc,. he strengthened the already formidable fortifications at Loches. He passed it down to Rchard the Lionheart, the French regained it in 1205 & t it remained a fortress till the 15th Century when it became a state prison till the 19th century. |