Château royal de Loches : donjon, logis royal et prison d'État

Loches

Above Loches, the Cité royale brings together a keep, a royal residence and a curtain wall. The keep is attributed to Fulk III Nerra, count of Anjou, who is said to have had it built between 1013 and 1035 according to the Cité royale. Philip Augustus took the place from King John of England in 1205 according to English Wikipedia (another source gives 1204). Charles VII stayed there from 1418. Joan of Arc met him there on 11 May 1429, after the lifting of the siege of Orléans. In the 1440s the king came there with his favourite Agnès Sorel, who died on 9 February 1450 at Jumièges, aged about 28. A 2005 study led by Philippe Charlier concluded that she was poisoned with mercury, without deciding between accident and crime. In the 15th century the château became a state prison: Louis XI had the round tower and its iron cages built there, but the story of Cardinal Balue having been imprisoned there is judged unfounded by English Wikipedia. Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan, captured at Novara on 10 April 1500, was transferred to Loches in 1504. After a failed escape attempt in 1508, he lost his privileges and died in the château on 27 May 1508. The tomb of Agnès Sorel, installed in the royal residence after 1809, was to be brought back to the collegiate church of Saint-Ours according to a decision of 2004–2005.

Getting there: Cité royale de Loches, at the top of the spur overlooking the town; opening hours and prices to be checked on the Cité royale website. The present location of Agnès Sorel's tomb is to be verified (see text). Coordinates: OpenStreetMap (Nominatim), consistent with Wikipedia.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound