Chateau Loches

Chateau Loches is located in the departement of Indre-et-Loire in the Loire Valley in France and is a very ancient chateau first constructed in the 9th century. Built more than 1,600 feet above the Indre River[?], the huge chateau dominates the town of Loches[?].

Captured and occupied by Henry II of England (Plantagenet) and his son, Richard the Lionhearted during the 12th century, the chateau withstood the assaults by the French King Philippe II in their wars for control of France until it was finally captured by King Philippe in 1205. Construction work immediately turned Loches into a huge military fortress.

The chateau would become a favorite residence of Charles VII of France who gave it to his mistress, Agnès Sorel, as her residence. It would be converted for use as a State prison by his son, King Louis XI who had lived there as a child but preferred the Royal Chateau at Amboise.

During the American Revolution, France financed and fought with the Americans against England and King Louis XVI used Chateau Loches as a prison for captured Englishmen.

At the time of the French Revolution, the chateau was ransacked and severely damaged. Some major restoration began in 1806 but today there are parts visible as ruins only. Owned by the Commune of Loches, the castle and the adjacent ancient Church of Saint-Ours are open to the public.