Hotels Loches France Cheap Loches Hotels Guide

Loches' outstanding charms are often compared to those of its most famous historical resident - Agnes Sorel. Sorel was known as the "beauty of beauties" and was the mistress of Charles VII. In the 1440s, the King gifted her the splendid Chateau de Loches, which stood then, as it does now, upon a rocky eminence 1,600 feet above the Indre River. Loches itself grew up around a monastery founded here in 500 AD. The settlement belonged to the Counts of Anjou from the 9th century to the 13th, before later serving as a residence to the kings of France. Its royal connections added to future prosperity, aiding the construction of much of the attractive Renaissance architecture that continues to characterise the town today. However, Loches' main attractions all lie in the Cite Medieval, or "Castle District", towards the north of town. Among the impressive sights are a 100-ft 12th-century keep, which features the deepest dungeons in the Loire area; and the Royal Lodge, where Joan of Arc once held court. The ornate Collegiate Church of Saint Ours, complete with black stone pyramids atop its nave, is also close by, and houses the tomb of Agnes Sorel. Less than 3 miles east, across the river, is the 3,500-hectare Loches National Forest, a former royal hunting ground that's barely changed in 300 years. A look here and you will be able to find where to stay in Loches. Make your choice of and of the cheap hotels in Loches, click on any of the pictures for more info and to check on room availability.