Royal City of Loches
Cité royale de Loches
A medieval royal town surrounded by walls, with an 11th-century giant square keep and the royal palace where Agnès Sorel is buried.
The Royal City of Loches stands on a hill beside the Indre, with the whole hill encircled by medieval walls. Within is a square keep built in the 11th century, about 36 metres tall and one of the best-preserved Romanesque keeps in France. Its dungeons and tower top can be visited. The royal palace was home to Charles VII and Louis XII. Charles VII's mistress Agnès Sorel is buried here, and Joan of Arc also urged Charles VII from this town to go to Reims for his coronation. The old town below is quaint and peaceful. A combined ticket costs about EUR14. It is about 45 km from Tours and about 30 km from Chenonceau.
Opening hours
About 09:30–18:00 (extended in summer)
Nearby sights
- Château de Chenonceau
- Pagode de Chanteloup
- Château du Clos Lucé
- Château d'Amboise
- Vouvray
- ZooParc de Beauval
- Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Tours Cathedral