The best walks and hikes around Vou

We bet you'll love Loches! Winding through the grand royal city, the charming cobbled streets offer glimpses of the courtyards of magnificent mansions, as well as the more open landscapes of the surrounding countryside. Stroll around, saunter, and soak up the atmosphere. The city center boasts a wealth of shops and restaurants. There's certainly plenty to be found in this city. A visit to the Jardin Public is also well worth it.

The donjon is a residential tower or defensive tower of a medieval castle in the French cultural area. The donjon is 36 meters high, has a square floor plan, and is characterized by an excellent state of preservation. It was probably built by Fulk III of Anjou in the 11th century. In the 15th century, the fortress was converted into a royal prison by Louis XI. It houses the cells of Philippe de Commynes, Cardinal Balue, and the Duke of Milan, who spent his time painting murals. In 1801, Napoleon I transferred the state prison to the department. The donjon was used as a prison until 1926. In any case, it is an impressive complex, as is the entire town of Loches, which is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

The Notre-Dame Collegiate Church is dedicated to Saint Ursus, who converted the region to Christianity in the 5th century. I was particularly impressed by the richly decorated Romanesque portal. Another important sight is the beautiful alabaster tombstone of Agnès Sorel, the mistress of King Charles VII, which radiates peace and gentleness.

The Chateau de Louroux, or priory of Louroux, is a fortified priory in the 13th century, dependent on the abbey of Marmoutier. The priory housed the Benedictine monks who had the pond dug to provide them with fish and create a water reserve for their mill. The castle can only be visited from the outside.

The Louroux pond site is made up of two ponds: the Reed Pond, which resulted from the construction of a dike by the monks in the 11th century, and the Beaulieu Pond. The natural area of the Louroux pond is a wetland which hosts a great diversity of species. Fish raised in the body of water are the subject of large traditional fisheries.

This fortified keep is a feat of military engineering built from 1013 to 1035 by the then Count of Anjou. Many royal figures have made it their home and frequented it over the centuries, which explains why Loches is known as a "royal city". These figures include Joan of Arc, Anne of Brittany and King Charles VII.

Through rural roads in the countryside we found this historic place.

Located in the Indre valley, the castle of Loches (and more precisely the Royal City of Loches) is part of the large family of Loire castles. Built on a long rocky outcrop, the fortified city is dominated by an imposing keep, a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. From the lower town to the fortress, the winding streets are dotted with architectural gems (Loches belongs to the network of cities and countries of Art and History): among them, the Saint-Ours collegiate church, Romanesque splendor with pyramids (the " dubes”) and the royal residence of the end of the Middle Ages, a high place in the History of France which welcomed Joan of Arc, Agnès Sorel and Anne of Brittany. Along a thematic path, the interactive tour evokes the destiny of men and women who left their mark on the history of these places. Immersive visit in augmented reality of the dungeon, thanks to the Histopad. The Royal City of Loches also hosts a new exhibition every year. Source: https://www.touraineloirevalley.com/patrimoine-culturel/cite-royale-de-loches-loches/