Loches, where art and history meet

Medieval boom time

After having been most likely founded during Roman times, the upper town, or royal city, began flourishing during the 6th century with the building of a priory dedicated to St. Ursus. Around the year 900 and for over three centuries, the Counts of Anjou, soon to be crowned kings of England, turned Loches into an impregnable stronghold.

Fulk III, known as Fulk the Black, built the keep during the 11th century. The lower town developed during the 13th century as the trade route linking Paris to Northern Spain passed through it. The Royal Residence was also built during this period.

To protect its population, the town built several levels of defensive systems, many of which still remain today. Three towering medieval gateways still beckon visitors in today: Porte Picois, Porte des Cordeliers and Porte Royale under which Joan of Arc entered on her way to meet Charles VII.

Renaissance inspired

At the Chancellery, the exceptional Renaissance facade is directly inspired by the Laurentian Library in Florence, a work by Michelangelo, and is home to the Architecture & heritage interpretation center. Next to it is the Maison du Centaure. Its facade is decorated with a relief representing Hercules and a centaur. The town hall, commissioned by François I himself, features a grand staircase, one of the first straight staircases built during this period. Another distinctive feature is that this building has served the same purpose for over 500 years.

Modern times

The arrival of the railway marked a new beginning for Loches. In addition to boosting the economy, it also brought greater State presence. Alongside the 16th-century hospital, Château d’Armaillé would become the sub-prefecture (visible from rue du Dr. Martinais, closed to the public).

An impressive 19th-century courthouse was erected on the old market place. The town also boasted magnificent buildings such as the Caisse d'Epargne (Savings Bank) and the Chamber of Commerce. The public park, imagined like a botanical garden and watched over by its century-old trees, still invites us in today to enjoy time out. This green space, running along the banks of the Indre and featuring an event-hosting bandstand, livens up the outskirts of the medieval town and offers breathtaking vistas over the town's monuments.