Right in the heart of Touraine, the town of Loches is home to a unique heritage site: a real town with a turbulent history. Built on a rocky spur and surrounded by a wall, the royal city of Loches consists of 2 main buildings: the keep and the royal dwelling. Built between 1013 and 1035 by the reckless Foulques Nerra, Loches' keep is today one of the best preserved of its time. As for the dwelling, it dates from the 14th century.
King Charles VII made it his second stronghold, after Chinon, in the 1420's. It was here that he met Joan of Arc after her victorious return from Orleans and began to live regularly with the one who would become the first favourite in French history, Agnès Sorel.
This magnificent young woman brings to the court of her lover a new breath of fresh air and a dynamism that does not please the king's austere entourage. In 1450, at only 27 years of age and pregnant with her fourth child, she died in troubled conditions that suggest poisoning, the first suspect being none other than the dolphin Louis, the future Louis XII.
According to the wishes of Charles VII, the one still known as "the Lady of Beauty" is buried in the Collegiate Church of Saint-Ours de Loches, a stone's throw from the house that was her favourite residence. At the beginning of the 16th century, the latter underwent major work to embellish the decorations, the jewel of which is undoubtedly the oratory of Anne of Brittany, the queen famous for being the only one in history to have married two kings of France, Charles VIII and Louis XII!
As early as the 15th century, high-ranking prisoners were locked up in the dungeon adjoining the dwelling. The most famous of them was undoubtedly the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, a fierce enemy of the French crown. In a private cell in the Tour du Martelet, incredible murals still bear witness to his four years of detention!
In 1792, Loches' prison destiny was confirmed with the creation of a revolutionary court and prison. The number of existing dungeons being insufficient, the royal residence and the houses of the canons of the Collegiate Church were requisitioned. Officially created in 1801, the Loches prison closed its doors for good in 1926. At that time, it contained only 3 occupants, whose living conditions were difficult to assess, as they seemed to have been forgotten by all.
Today the property of the Departmental Council of Indre et Loire, the Royal City of Loches has undergone major restorations and seems to have regained its former glory. It offers the discovery of its dwelling and its prison but also a cultural program rich in numerous events! An important stage in the discovery of the Valley of the Kings, the Royal City of Loches will delight both Agnès Sorel enthusiasts and those interested in the prison heritage.
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Bérengère for Comme des Français
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