Loches Things to Do

The keep consists of several buildings and a few cells and corridors under the ground. You can climb the main tower. Here all the floors have gone over the years but it remains so impressive. So chase that fear of heights away for a short while and climb!

This room is the first you enter when you come into the castle. The whole castle is actually build of rooms behind each other. There is no corridor or hall to connect them. You just go from one room to the other and back.

This first room is where Charles de VII held council and where he did receive guests.

This church is inside the citadel close to the castle. The building was started in the 10th century to shelter a relic. I didn't really have a good look around because i was in a hurry to visit the castle. Though when i stood on top of the keep i was surprised by this church and its towers. From the keep you might actually have the best view of this building.

This very imposing, massive and even rather menacing building is the only entrance to the citadel with the hunting castle, the church and the keep. Don't know how old it is but late 15th , early 16th i would guess

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

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.

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.

This is an Eleventh Century church at Loches. Great place we found for refuge from the pouring rain outside.