'La Porte des Cordeliers' (left). Loches is surrounded by three
circles of walls, built in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.
The inner circle, pierced only by the Porte Royale, protects the
Citadel which dominates the town. Two further circles, built
successively in the 12th and 13th centuries, contained four gates
i.e. the Porte Picois to the North-west, the Porte Poitevine to the
South (only a part remains), the Porte des Cordeliers to the
North-east and the Porte Quintefol (now vanished) to the East. They
protected the lower town situated at the foot of the rocky
outcrop.
The 15th century Porte des Cordeliers, in the third circle of the
town walls, was served by two drawbridges crossing the River Indre.
It was the gate used by travellers going to Spain. It has a steep
roof with a fine dormer window and pointed turrets at each corner,
and a covered watchpath with finely carved machicolations
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The old town of Loches outside the medieval walled
city (right).
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The cobbled street leading to La Porte Royale, the
only entrance into the walled city (left)....
....and a commercial enterprise within the wall of the gateway
(below).
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An old well within the medieval city (above)
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The impressive Dungeon 'keep' rises from the southern extremity of
the Loches rock spur. Its construction, attributed to Foulques
Nerra, Count of Anjou, goes back to the beginning of the 11th
century.
Built on a quadrangular plan and 36 metres high, it is considered
to be one of the most impressive keeps of the Norman period. The
walls are around 3.5 metres thick at the base tapering to 2.5
metres at the top of the building.
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At the base of the keep and shown in the foreground
(above) was the principle entrance to
the fortress. This Châtelet (small castle), previously
equipped with a drawbridge, would have housed Philippe de Commynes,
chronicler to Louis XI, who, according to his memoirs, spent eight
months locked in an iron cage here. Loches had two such cages, one
of which was destroyed in 1791, but contrary to popular legend they
were particularly ‘imposing and comfortable’. (See the
next page for pictures of a replica cage.).
The Governor's Residence and Round Tower lie, in the above picture,
beyond the entrance.
The Barbican, shown to the right of the above picture and in the
foreground of the picture below) is built on a triangular plan
withe the buttress facing away from the main building. This
advanced defensive work was designed to protect the fortress
entrance and was built in the 15th century to counter the threat of
improved artillery design.
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The Round Tower (Right) dating from
the 15th century was probably intended to replace the Norman keep
against the new threat of artillery: It is crowded with a terrace "
feux" (upon which early artillery was mounted) and machicolation
(holes through which the defenders could drop stones etc. upon
anyone attacking the base of the fortifications).
The tower comprises three floors made fit for habitation
(fireplaces and latrines) above a cellar covered by a cupola. Part
of the tower collapsed in 1814.
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Looking towards the entrance to the Dungeon from
the Governor's Residence.
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The entrance to the Dungeon
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Stairway leading from the entrance up to the first
floor and down to the armoury, wine cellar and store.
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