logis_royal_txt

Dominating the Indre Valley stands, on a rocky spur towering above the town, the Royal Dwelling of Loches. We know that in the 5th century, a castle already existed on this site since Gregory of Tours wrote that Saint Ours came to be established near a 'Castellum'. In the 13th century there only existed a watchtower, and the Royal Dwelling, such as it stands today, was probably not begun until the end of the 14th century.

It is true that the town has existed since the 11th century, imposing the keep of the Counts of Anjou. In the 13th century the fortress had a moat around it, thus making Loches impregnable during the feudal era. It was then, under the reign of Charles VI that the Royal Dwelling was constructed and joined to the watchtower.

The first building was composed of two rooms: the 'Great Hall' and the 'Royal Chamber'. It was in this Great Hall that in June 1429, just after her victory at Orléans, Joan of Arc came to implore the Dauphin Charles, to be crowned at Reims. It was her second most important interview, after her interview at Chinon in march 1429. It was equally in this part of the castle that Agnès Sorel, known as the Lady of Beauty, often came to meet her royal lover Charles VII, helping him to pursue his work through her love for him.

Finished towards the end of the 15th century - the Hundred Years War ended, the civil struggles between the Armagnacs and the Bourguignons subsided and the Touraine having momentarily found its legendary peace and quietness - this first part of the Royal Dwelling presents a military almost defensive character...

While the premonitory signs of new hostilities were arising in Italy, Charles VIII and Louis XII extended this first dwelling with a second one, of a more refined style, prefiguring the Renaissance. The dormer windows on the sculptured facades, surmounted with hounds recalls the favourite pass-time of the Kings of France during this era. From the defensive castle, Loches then became the meeting place for the Royal Hunt.

Finally, a little while later, at the north end of the castle the Chapel of Anne of Britanny was built, a genuine lace of stone in a most flamboyant gothic style.

It was at Loches that François ler received, in 1539, his dangerous neighbour Charles the Fifth of Austria. But the decline of Loches was near as the Valois possessed many other pleasant residences in the Touraine. During the religious wars, Loches suffered, like all the other areas in France, and under the 'Terror' of the Revolution, a large number of suspects were imprisoned there.

With the Empire, Loches became 'Sub-Prefecture' of the Touraine and because of this, the castle was turned into an administrative building, and on this occasion, it was also partially restored. It is surely because of this fact that it was never completely abandoned, which explains the fact that one can still find this marvellous evidence of Medieval France in a perfect state of preservation.

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\| close window \| detailed map \| photobook \| next		The Royal Dwelling (Le Logis Royal), outside THE CASTLE OF LOCHES (Le Château de Loches)

Dominating the Indre Valley stands, on a rocky spur towering above the town, the Royal Dwelling of Loches. We know that in the 5th century, a castle already existed on this site since Gregory of Tours wrote that Saint Ours came to be established near a 'Castellum'. In the 13th century there only existed a watchtower, and the Royal Dwelling, such as it stands today, was probably not begun until the end of the 14th century. It is true that the town has existed since the 11th century, imposing the keep of the Counts of Anjou. In the 13th century the fortress had a moat around it, thus making Loches impregnable during the feudal era. It was then, under the reign of Charles VI that the Royal Dwelling was constructed and joined to the watchtower. The first building was composed of two rooms: the 'Great Hall' and the 'Royal Chamber'. It was in this Great Hall that in June 1429, just after her victory at Orléans, Joan of Arc came to implore the Dauphin Charles, to be crowned at Reims. It was her second most important interview, after her interview at Chinon in march 1429. It was equally in this part of the castle that Agnès Sorel, known as the Lady of Beauty, often came to meet her royal lover Charles VII, helping him to pursue his work through her love for him. Finished towards the end of the 15th century - the Hundred Years War ended, the civil struggles between the Armagnacs and the Bourguignons subsided and the Touraine having momentarily found its legendary peace and quietness - this first part of the Royal Dwelling presents a military almost defensive character... While the premonitory signs of new hostilities were arising in Italy, Charles VIII and Louis XII extended this first dwelling with a second one, of a more refined style, prefiguring the Renaissance. The dormer windows on the sculptured facades, surmounted with hounds recalls the favourite pass-time of the Kings of France during this era. From the defensive castle, Loches then became the meeting place for the Royal Hunt. Finally, a little while later, at the north end of the castle the Chapel of Anne of Britanny was built, a genuine lace of stone in a most flamboyant gothic style. It was at Loches that François ler received, in 1539, his dangerous neighbour Charles the Fifth of Austria. But the decline of Loches was near as the Valois possessed many other pleasant residences in the Touraine. During the religious wars, Loches suffered, like all the other areas in France, and under the 'Terror' of the Revolution, a large number of suspects were imprisoned there. With the Empire, Loches became 'Sub-Prefecture' of the Touraine and because of this, the castle was turned into an administrative building, and on this occasion, it was also partially restored. It is surely because of this fact that it was never completely abandoned, which explains the fact that one can still find this marvellous evidence of Medieval France in a perfect state of preservation. \| close window \| detailed map \|