Loches Castle

Royal and Impregnable: Step back in time to discover one of the most beautiful fortified cities in France!

The Keep, standing 36 meters tall, was built by Count Fulk Nerra of Anjou in the early 11th century. While it ranks among the most imposing of its time in Europe, it is also one of the best preserved. A model of military architecture, it was transformed into a royal prison by Louis XI.

The Royal Lodgings are located nearby. This jewel of the French Renaissance, a landmark in French history, was a favorite residence of the Valois dynasty. Its open, terraced façade overlooks the city and the Indre Valley. The lodgings notably hosted Joan of Arc, Agnès Sorel, and Anne of Brittany.

From the moment you enter the keep, beyond the barbican, you are immersed in the medieval prison world: the Louis XI Tower, the hammer, the torture chamber, the graffiti room, the dungeons, the fortifications, and the underground passages... Not far from the governor's residence, the medieval garden, with its pergola, lawn benches, and living willow fences, offers a remarkably serene contrast to this otherwise oppressive environment.

The rooms of the royal residence display beautiful Flemish tapestries, suits of armor, and paintings such as the prestigious Liget altarpiece of the Passion of Christ, attributed to Jehan Poyet (15th century).