Loches, town, indreetloire departement, centre region, westcentral france, located on the left bank of the indre river southeast of tours. Looking for the best castle hotel in loches, centre loire valley. This former farm and mansion 17s will be based on your vacation in the picturesque sites of the loire valley castles, vineyards, troglodyte sites, abbeys, ponds, zoos. The chateau of loches is located in the loire valley in france. Gaston menier, senator of seineetmarne, and owner of chenonceau at the time.
Apr 22, 2014 this week we are visiting six chateaux in the loire valley, of which in total there are dozens. Book online highest rated places of interest or tour operators on tripadvisor, promoting those where there is at least one tour or activity available to book on tripadvisor. The people of loches are passionately interested in the history of their town. Once more the loire valley and the touraine were pivotal regarding victory or defeat. Loches castle stay in a castle hotel in loches orbitz. Work on the structure began in the early eleventh century, which is the norman period, and the intentions were to build a fortress for military purposes. Loches the roman leucae grew up around a monastery founded about 500 by st. There was a priory in loches in the 6th century but the town really began to grow around 900ad. She married foulques i le anjou3067 before 5 jul 905 in anjou, france. Ours and belonged to the counts of anjou from 886 until 1205. For three centuries the counts of anjou soon to become kings of england turned loches into a fortified town on high ground. This towering medieval castle, residing within loches walled cite royale, has a colourful history.
In the latter year it was seized from king john of england by philip augustus, and from the middle of the th century until after the time of charles ix of france the castle was a residence of the kings of france, apart for a brief interlude in. The 102 standard touring pitches are all level, of a good size and have 10a electricity. Find a selection of chicago historic hotels on orbitz today. If you are looking for action you wont find it here. It is famous for its medieval buildings, especially the ancient chateau that dominates the. Today, the museum has one of the most extensive collections of medieval armour in france. Find hotels and other accommodations near musee lansyer and book today. May 08, 2019 an hours drive brought us to chenonceau, the most famous of the loire chateaux. Chateau loches loches castle in france destination360.
In the 15th century, agnes sorel, king charles viis mistress, brightened the history of the castle by her presence, marked until then by conflicts between lords. The town is dominated by the medieval citadel, which is surrounded by 1. A typical french hotelno elevator, small room, miniscule shower but a fine place for a night to check out loches. The main transport hub in the area is tours, about 50 minutes drive, where there is a small airport and rail link to paris 56 minutes and southwards by tgv. Each unit is equipped with a terrace, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a seating area with a sofa, a flatscreen tv, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with shower and a. Ours the fortress is perched on a promontory and commands the indre valley. Finally, i just have to share with you a few of my favorite signs we found hanging around in loches. Life, death, love, art, and scandal at hollywoods chateau marmont, a new book by journalist shawn levy, chronicles some of the juiciest scandals to rock hollywoods most. Book your hotel in loches and pay later with expedia. Feb 02, 2011 the last french campaign of the 100 years war of edward iii was between 5960. At the time of the french revolution, the chateau was ransacked and severely damaged. I will be doing a series of posts in which i highlight each chateau that we visit, along with the surrounding town if noteworthy.
Castles and chateaux of old touraine and the loire country. At the top of the rue du chateau, the busyness of the town ends and the castles huge ramparts rise up abruptly. Chateau loches, as the splendid loches castle is known in french, has quite a long history. You will get a glimpse into the lives of two people who you may or may not like but who you will get interested in.
Yes, there are plenty of beautiful fortresses and structures elsewhere in the country, but the loire valley is particularly blessed with the fairy tale castles we dreamed of as children. The brazen nile progresses forward, through adventures of missions faraway, the quetzal bird, gypsy caravans, jaded masks, and anthropology. Medieval and renaissance life, architecture of the middle ages, travel literature in english translation, online text, on. You can add your own historic sites and attractions to. Best rates on this direct website try an historic bed and breakfast experience in heart of royal loire chateaux valley france, charming rooms or self catering. The chateau was designed and occupied by henry ii of england and his son, richard the lionheart during the 12th century.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The most magical chateaux and castles in the loire valley. Loches itself is a place of substantial historical significance, with its massive defensive keep, chateau and royal residence, and cathedral. It was constructed in the 9th century, 500 meters above the indre river, and dominates the town of loches. The building is exemplary of military architecture of the norman period.
The best chateaux of the loire valley, france telegraph. It was in 1516 that leonardo da vinci crossed the alps on a donkey, the mona lisa in his saddlebag. Old touraine the life and history of the chateaux of the loire. Loches france and its 12th century ramparts france travel. Whether you are a foodie looking for an authentic farmers market, a bargainhunter after a buzzy flea market, or simply want to take in the beauty of endless fragrant flower stalls, here are ten of the top markets in the loire valley to explore. Built some 500 metres above the indre river, the huge castle, famous mostly for its massive square keep, dominates the town of loches. Aug 18, 1991 at the top of the rue du chateau, the busyness of the town ends and the castles huge ramparts rise up abruptly. Designed and occupied by henry ii of england and his son, richard the lionheart during the 12th centu. Loches is in the indreetloire department of the centre region, at 50 kilometres southeast of tours explore loches. This is an eloquently opinionated guidebook to the castles and churches of france. Loches the castle, the town, the surroundings le chateau. The 10 most scandalous tales from the chateau marmont. The complete restoration and furnishing of the house with total authenticity and attention to the smallest details has been a labor of love by its. There are the chateaux that are situated on the loire itself.
This fulk then took a noble wife from the country of tours, roscilla by name, daughter of warnerius, who at that time owned three castles in the touraine, the ones called. Loches hotels, france vacation deals from 77 usdnight. With its peaceful location on a quiet tributary, this is a country retreat of small private studies, booklined. Loches is known for its monuments, historical sites, and museums. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. May 21, 2014 a guide to visiting our france experts 12 favourite chateaux in the loire valley, france, including information on their gardens and history, entry prices and contact details, and how to avoid. She has toured all areas of france, but none more so than the loire valley where she finds the combination of rich historical culture, rural landscape and exceptional architecture not to mention outstanding wine an irresistible lure to return again and again. Built 500 m 1,600 ft above the indre river, the huge castle is famous for its massive square keep.
This dedicated space, in the gallery of domes, pays tribute to the memory of all those who helped treat over 2,250 wounded here, during the full four years of the great war. William maxwell was a great writer and his style is very present in this book. The castle area, consisting of three buildings, among them one the oldest keeps in france, is one of the best preserved european architecture ensembles of the middle ages. Highest rated places of interest or tour operators on tripadvisor, promoting those where there is at least one tour or activity available to book on tripadvisor.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Touraine is truly the region where one may read history without books, with the very pages of nature punctuated and adorned with the marvels of the french renaissance. Its impossible to think of the loire river valley without instant pictures of the best french castles popping into mind. During the american revolution, france financed and fought with the americans against england and king louis xvi used the castle of loches as a prison for captured englishmen. When the indreetloire department was created on 1800, the arrondissement of loches was part of that original department in 1926, the arrondissement of loches was eliminated but in 1943 it was made again an arrondissement of the indreetloire department geography. Despite the changes made over the centuries, the town of loches still has much of its medieval and renaissance heritage, years of history and architecture with the keep, the former collegiate church of notredame now st ours, the royal apartments, the chancellery. Upper town and chateau, loches, france, eur unknown on. Built some 500 metres 1,600 ft away from the indre river, the huge castle, famous mostly for its massive square keep, dominates the town of loches. The landscaped garden and furniture available to your country meals. Francois i went the whole hog and incorporated the italian renaissance man.
Caroline is a freelance writer with a focus on european travel. The author, walter larned, talks one through the monuments history and then walks one through its most interesting architectural aspects. In the latter year it was seized from king john of england by philip augustus, and from the middle of the th century until after the time of charles ix of france the castle was a residence. The artistry in the signs is always unique and often times colorful. Top hotels in loches estimated price for 1 night 2 adults. Theres a private bathroom with shower in all units, along with a hairdryer and free toiletries. The arrondissement of loches is the southeast of the indreetloire department. Arrondissement of loches simple english wikipedia, the. Often dubbed the garden of france, the touraine region is known for its rich food, tasty cheeses and famously pure french accent, as well as a firstrate lineup of glorious chateaux. Today it is considered one of the best preserved from the romanesque period. The castle was captured by king philip ii of france in 1204. Larned expresses his personal views with refreshing and sometimes downright gushing candor. Il est parfaitement mis en page pour une lecture sur liseuse electronique.
History and geography of the town of loches, france. It includes a massive dungeon, a royal residence where agnes sorel, the favourite of king charles vii lived, and a church eglise st. Find the most enchanting loches castle to spend the night. Aerial view from the west towards the dungeon of loches indreetloire department, france. The royal city of loches is an imposing medieval fortress. Why not share it with other people interested in history. A guide to visiting our france experts 12 favourite chateaux in the loire valley, france, including information on their gardens and history, entry prices and contact details, and how to avoid. The life and history of the famous chateaux of france, volume 1 theodore andrea cook full view 1892 old touraine, the life and history of the chateaux of the loire, volume 2. Frances loire valley kings had been good at incorporating italian renaissance ideas into french life. Over the years it has been a castle, a military fortress and even a state prison. From these encounters with history, loches, within its double ramparts, has retained several monuments.
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