Built around a monastery founded in the 5th century by St. Ours, the fortress of Loches passed into the hands of the Counts of Anjou at the end of the 9th century. They undertook the construction of the keep. This fortress was one of the major strongholds of Foulques Nerra during his war with the house of Blois and was again the source of conflict between the Angevin kings of England and the kings of France. In 1193 Jean sans Terre (King John 'Lackland' of Robin Hood fame) yielded his seat to Philippe Auguste. But the following year John's brother Richard I 'the Lionheart' won it after a siege of only three hours! In 1205, Philippe Auguste reconquered the fortress after a year long siege... Since that date, the city remained in the hands of the French crown and was administered and run by the Royal governors.

The keep served as a plain military fortress up until the mid XVth century. Then Louis XI decided to convert it into a state prison. So it remained until 1801, date at which it became a departmental prison. This usage ensured the continued upkeep of the buildings. On the 27th December 1926, the house of detention and correction was finally abandoned by the Prison service.



1 - <<< THE DONJON - On the southern extremity of the rock spur rises the impressive keep. Its construction, attributed to Foulques (Fulk) Nerra, Count of Anjou, goes back to the beginning of the 11th century. Built on a quadrangular plan, 36 metres high, and meant to defend the fortified town from the south, it is considered to be one of the most impressive keeps of the Norman period. Early in the 13C the promontory was defended by a moat, a rampart and the keep which comprised a residence and its outbuildings, a collegiate church and houses for the canons. The walls are around 3,5 metres thick at the base tapering to 2.5 metres at the summit. The roof and floors have disappeared but on the west wall one can still see three superposed fireplaces.The ground floor - the commoners' level - was used as a store and annoury. A well >>>, to supply water, can be seen in the south-east comer. Taking the stone staircase in the tower (inaccurately called the 'small keep'), we reach the first floor, site of the Grand Hall, a state reception room where the Lord of the fortress could render judgement. A stair case within the East wall allows access to the second floor. Here the Lord assembled his counsellors and close members of the family. To preserve a semblance of intimacy, this floor would have been divided by tapestries or partitions. From this floor there was access to the Castrale/Saint Sallebœuf Chapel.

Via the minuscule spiral staircase, we arrive at the third floor. In peace time this was probably reserved as private quarters. In times of war, the garrison would take possession of them. The southern wall gives direct access to the - Hourds - (corbelling balcony) a sort of wooden gallery on the outside walls allowing surveillance of the surrounding countryside and protection of the immediate approaches of the keep. A final stairway leads to the summits, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view >>> of the surroundings.

2 - GATE HOUSE - Built at the base of the keep, this was the principle entrance to the fortress. The 'Châtelet' (small castle), previously equipped with a drawbridge, would have housed Philippe de Commynes, chronicler to Louis XI, who, according to his memoirs, spent eight months locked in an iron cage here. Loches posseded two such <<< cages, one of which was destroyed in 1791, but contrary to popular legend they were particulary 'imposing and comfortable'. François-Nicolas Dubuisson, who visited Loches in the 16th century noted that '(they are) not entirely in iron, but in wood fortified on the outside with bands of iron, square, about six and a half feet in each sense, boarded top and bottom. There is a slit to allow the passage of meat (food) in one of the sides and another in the door throught which a basin was passed... and it was here that the prisoner placed himself to empty his bowels'. Since the 14th July 1995, you too may taste the pleasures of the cage in Philippe de Commynes' dungeon.


3 - THE BARBICAN >>> - Built on a triangular plan, buttress to the north, this advanced defensive work was designed to protect the fortress entrance and was built in the 15th century to counter the threat of improved artillery.

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