Château de Loches

In the magnificient fortified city of Loches, stands a castle, became famous thanks to its huge keep, built by Foulque Nerra, Count of Anjou, in the 10th century. The Chateau de Loches, except its keep, was built by Henri II of England, father of Richard I of England. After Henri II died, Philippe Auguste and John, Richard’s brother, came to an agreement and Philippe Auguste became the owner of the castle. When Richard came back from the crusade, he took the castle back very quickly.

But this was not the end, as Philippe Auguste took it back again, after a long siege. The Chateau de Loches had an important role in the 10th century, during the conflicts between the Counts of Blois and the Counts of Anjou, as it became a symbol of power in the area. In the 15th century, Agnes Sorel, King Charles VII’s mistress, brightened the history of the castle by her presence, marked until then by conflicts between lords. The Chateau de Loches was listed as a French historical monument in 1861. It remains one of the biggest military building from that time and one of the best preserved.