Heritage walk in Loches

Start from the Maquis Césario car park, located next to the Stade du Maréchal Leclerc, at the foot of the royal city and on the banks of the Indre.

(S/E) With your back to the fortress, walk up the car park following the branch of the Indre river that separates it from the public garden. Pass under the railway line and, when the street turns left, take the small road that branches off to the right. Turn left across the Prairie de la Foire, following a beautiful sandy path that runs alongside a hedge. This vast expanse occupies the floodplain of the Indre, which divides into numerous branches here. These are the ones you will cross along the way. When you reach the one that borders the village of Beaulieu-lès-Loche, turn left and follow the river upstream to the bridge.

(1) Crossing the bridge, you will come to the square of the former abbey. All that remains of the abbey is the old abbey church and the buildings that house the Beaulieu town hall. Pass to the left of the bell tower and continue slightly to the right along Rue Foulque Nerra. Pass the old Saint-Laurent Church, then join Rue de Guigne. Turn left, cross the Indre river again and walk up Rue Brûlée. Pass the former Cloître des Viantaises, the Château de Sansac, a little Renaissance gem, a few beautiful residences of varying ages, and finally the site of the local hospital. After crossing another branch of the Indre, you will reach the site of the Cordeliers mills, just before passing through the fortified gate of the same name.

(2) This old entrance to the town, on the river side, is located at the northern end of the fortress spur. It leads to Grande Rue, then Rue du Château, which you follow up to the Porte Royale.

(3) This majestic entrance is the only one that provides access to the royal city of Loches. Pass through the gate and walk up Rue Foulques Nerra to the first street on the right. Turn there to reach the Mail du Donjon, at the end of which stands the imposing mass of the medieval citadel.

(4) Turn your back on the keep and walk down the mall. At the bottom, turn right onto Rue Thomas Pactius. Continue along this street until you reach the Collegiate Church of Saint-Ours, which blocks the end of the street. Walk around the church on the left to reach Place Charles VII. At the end of this square is the entrance to the royal residence.

(5) Return to the church, then walk down Rue Lansyer, which passes in front of the museum of the same name. At the bottom of the street, you will find the Porte Royale, which you can walk through to leave the royal city.

(3) Cross the square opposite and go down the steps to Rue Balzac. Walk along the ramparts to the left to reach the crossroads directly below the keep.

(6) At the foot of the keep, begin to circle the citadel on the right, following the wall that protects it. Walk down Boulevard Philippe Auguste, enjoying the panoramic view it offers, until you reach the first houses built along the Indre River. At the first crossroads with Rue Quintefol, turn left to reach the bridge that crosses the river once again. A few dozen metres further on, you will find the car park where you started (S/E).

This route links several sites and monuments that are open to visitors (free or paid admission): the former Abbey Church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, Sansac Castle, the keep, Saint-Ours Collegiate Church, Logis Royal, Lansyer Museum, etc., which you can visit along the way. You can also simply locate them and come back for a visit later, as the combined visiting time (two hours for the keep and the royal residence alone) can significantly extend the time needed to complete the circular.

Although the suggested itinerary takes you through some of the streets of Loches, it should be complemented by a stroll through the many streets and squares of the town centre, which offers a rich and lively architectural heritage. And don't hesitate to enjoy the beautiful terraces you'll find there.

About ten kilometres north-east of Loches, the village of Chédigny has been awarded the "remarkable garden" label, the only one of its kind in France to date. A visit during the most flower-filled periods is highly recommended.