Loches
Loches is in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Centre region, at 50 kilometres south-east of Tours.
On arriving in the town of Loches there is an instant air of vitality and interest. The Place du Marché just outside the old town has a couple of restaurants where you can sit and eat and watch the world go by, though perhaps better to wait and visit either the Auberge Medievale which looks charming, or the ancient Presbyterre at the top of the medieval village and eat looking out on the views (though the views are not fantastic I must admit).
The citadel of Loches is surrounded by 2km of remparts. The old town is full of interesting monuments. The Tour St Antoine, 52 metres high was built in 1534 and is an excellent example of Renaissance architecture as is the nearby Town Hall, the Hotel de Ville. Further along from the tower is Le Hotel Nau, a 16th century building with 3 stories of Italian Renaissance loggias.
The ‘Maison du peintre Emmanuel Lansyer’ is a lovely house and contains over 100 of his paintings as well as works by Gustave Doré, Hugo and Corot, and sketches by Delacroix. There is also a collection of Japanese Art. You can even relax in the garden which has been reproduced according to a painting of the time. Lansyer is considered as one of the best landscape painters of his time.
The Renaissance Collegiale Saint Ours whose spires dominate many views of the town contains a recumbent statue of Agnes Sorrel the official mistress of King Charles VII. She was the ‘official’ mistress because even the pope admired her and she therefore became the first officially recognised mistress of a king. The entrance porch of the church is carved in great detail with images of weird beasts.
The northern end of the citadel houses the lovely Logis Royal, the Royal Lodgings’ of CharlesVII. It was here that Joan of Arc came to persuade Charles to go to Reims to be crowned King of France. The tomb of Agnes Sorrel is in a wing of the palace and there is a portrait of her in the room as well as a portrait of the Virgin in her likeness. Agnes was renowned for setting a trend of semi-nudity in the Court of Charles VII.
The donjon is approached by a long alley planted on both sides with trees and bushes, giving a charming approach to a grim destination. Inside you can see a reconstitution of the wood and iron cage which imprisoned Cardinal La Balue for 11 years! The 15th century torture chamber was largely destroyed in the Revolution but the guides fill in the gory details. The donjon acted as a prison as recently as 1926.
Not to be missed while you are at Loches is the pretty village of Beaulieu-les-Loches, just across the Loire River.
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Tourist Classifications for Loches
- Listed as "Plus Beaux Detour" town in France (ie recommended stopover place)
- Listed as "Ville d'Art et Histoire" (ie focus on preserving the town heritage)
Places to visit near Loches, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Loches.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
25 km: Chateau de Chenonceau (castle) 23 km: Montresor (Most beautiful village)
See also Loches (version Francais)
