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Loches Things To Do

Reviews and photos of Loches attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Loches sightseeing.
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Explore the Keep
  • Tip Rating:
    • hquittner
  • Updated By hquittner on February 26, 2009
  • Loches Page by hquittner
    • The Keep (left) & Round Tower (rt) Looking South - Loches
    The Keep (left) & Round Tower
    (rt) Looking South
    by hquittner, 2 more photos
    A tour is offered of the Keep and the attached Martelet during which its somber rooms and torture instruments are on view. The keep is 11C built by Fulk Nerra of Angers fame. It has buttressed walls that are 9 ft. thick. In one room Ludovico Sforza was kept in solitary confinement for 8 years. He created graffiti on the wall to help keep his sanity. Presumably, he dropped dead on reaching daylight when released.

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    Visit the Church of St.-Ours
  • Tip Rating:
    • hquittner
  • By hquittner on February 26, 2009
  • Loches Page by hquittner
    • Church of St.-Ours Seen from South - Loches
    Church of St.-Ours Seen from
    South
    by hquittner, 2 more photos
    As one views the church from the South, it appears to have four steeples in a row, the outer two being taller. Indeed the tower on the left (west) is the bell-towe and is 11C with a newer top. The one on the far right is the crossing tower (12C). The two shorter ones are actually octagonal domes that cover the nave (just after 1150)). The use of domes as covering is so unusual that it will be treated as a General Tip. The church is Romanesque, mostly 12C and has a narthex and an interesting entry also covered separately. Inside, the church has only a nave and a south aisle but has a wide transept with tall barrel vault top providing clarity within.

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    Enter the Medieval City
  • Tip Rating:
    • hquittner
  • By hquittner on February 26, 2009
  • Loches Page by hquittner
    • Round Tower (left) & Keep (far right) - Loches
    Round Tower (left) & Keep (far
    right)
    by hquittner, 2 more photos
    The parking area was at the southwest end of the walled enclosure above. As we approached these ramparts, we walked into the shadow of a "Round Tower" and saw to the right the looming hulk of the 120 ft tall keep. These structures dominate the south end of the enclosure. We walked north along the west wall until we reached the only entry: the Porte Royale, built in the 15C between two 13C defensive towers.

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    See the Castle and Its Interior
  • Tip Rating:
    • hquittner
  • By hquittner on February 26, 2009
  • Loches Page by hquittner
    • Meeting Room of J. d'Arc and Charles VII - Loches
    Meeting Room of J. d'Arc and
    Charles VII
    by hquittner, 3 more photos
    The castle has two wings linked end to end. The older one is taller (north ,15C), was created for Charles VII and used primarily to house his mistress Agnes Sorel. The newer wing (south, 16C) was built for Charles VIII and Louis XII. The rooms are sparsely furnished and decorated. The most important one (historically) is preserved as the room in which Joan d'Arc convinced Charles VII to go to Reims to be crowned King establishing France as a sovereign state and legitimate entity. Another room houses the restored Tomb of Agnes Sorel (treated by us as a separate General Tip). Nearby a room houses a Crucifixion tryptich of the School of Jean Fouquet (15C). In the newer wing is a charming Oratory of Anne de Bretagne.

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    The Donjon (Keep)
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mique
  • Updated By Mique on July 18, 2004
  • Loches Page by Mique
    • The Donjon of Loches - Loches
    The Donjon of Loches
    by Mique
    I don´t mind admitting this but i´m a sucker for these kind of buildings. Luckily i wasn´t there when they were in use though. But somehow they interest me immensely. And the Donjon of Loches is one of the best examples. It isn´t only the tower itself but it has a whole range of chambers, towers and dungeons to explore. The tower is climable though a note of warning.. If you´re afraid of heights (like i am) you will not like this. The stairs are stone and ok. But the floors don´t exist anymore so sometimes you need to cross to another section to go on. This is done with those see-through steel floorings..(mesh?) Not fun. But worth it.

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    Le Logis Royal
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mique
  • Updated By Mique on July 18, 2004
  • Loches Page by Mique
    • The castle entrance - Loches
    The castle entrance
    by Mique
    This was the royal hunting castle. It isn?t a very big castle but i found it intriguing because of the vast halls and the difference it had to other castles i have seen. Besides, Jeanne d?Arc has been in this castle. A very good reason too..

    The beginnings of the castle date back to the 14th century. A century later the castle was expanded.

    For me the fascination already started with the entrance with dogs (i think) guarding the stairs that lead to the entrance doors. And after that it only got better

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    The Porte Picois
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mique
  • Updated By Mique on July 18, 2004
  • Loches Page by Mique
    • The Porte Picois - Loches
    The Porte Picois
    by Mique
    When i drove into Loches the town already looked very promising. But when i passed this gate on my way to the tourist info office, i was sold...

    If it hadn´t been for all the busy signs of modern life i could easily have imagined some horsemen riding through the gate. Too bad i´m absolute nothing at filming and such. Otherwise i would have spotted Loches as a great filming location...

    The gate dates back to 1440 and was part of the outer defense walls of Loches which had 4 gates. I did see 2 of them. No idea whether the other 2 are still in existence. But considering that the preservation of the rest was so good, i wouldn´t be surprised if they did.

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    The town hall
    Mique
  • By Mique on July 25, 2004
  • Loches Page by Mique
    • The town hall - Loches
    The town hall
    by Mique
    Although it is a very nice building to see, it is easy to overlook it because of the huge gateway it is attached too. When you walk under the Picois Gate, the town hall will be on your righthande side. It was build between 1553 and 1543. I didn't go in since i was a bit pressed for time and i'm not ure one could go far. But the hallway should give a good impression of the buildings' interior

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    Inside the citadel
    Mique
  • By Mique on July 25, 2004
  • Loches Page by Mique
    • Inside the citadel - Loches
    Inside the citadel
    by Mique
    Every tme you pas a gate of an earlier defense wall, you go back in time even more. When you've passed the citadel gate, this is the scene you'll see. The road to the left will get you to the church and the castle, The way ahead will lead to the keep. This is a place where you really can not loose your way since this is all there is.

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    The chancellerie
    Mique
  • By Mique on July 25, 2004
  • Loches Page by Mique
    • A mural (in the back) - Loches
    A mural (in the back)
    by Mique
    In the chancellerie there is a permanent exposition about the history of Loches. Entrance is free and it is worthwhile to have a (quick) look around.

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    Overview
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    Things To Do
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    Local Customs
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    Sports Travel
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    Tips: 2 - Photos: 5
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