Loches Castle
Loches Castle is one of the oldest castles in the Loire River Valley, which has seen many battles and royal intrigues over the years of its existence.
The first defensive structure in this place appeared at the beginning of the 9th century, and was a wooden tower guarding the settlement. Everything changed when the right to own these lands passed to Fulk Nerra, an aggressive count who wants to significantly increase his territory. During his life, he erected more than 10 fortresses to protect the occupied lands. The construction of the Losh Castle began in 1005 and ended 65 years later. Although the dimensions of the fortress are quite small, only 25 meters in length and 15 widths at 38 meters in height. But in those days it was considered impregnable, because the wall thickness was almost 3 meters, which made the destruction of Losh Castle problematic. Numerous loopholes in the walls made the assault difficult, as well as the mounted loafers ( the mashikuli ) at the top, from which stones, tar poured onto the enemy and shot at the enemies standing at the walls.
Fulk Nerra died in 1040 and his heir was Joffrois Martel d’Anju, who destroyed his neighbors and calmly began to dwell in Losh Castle, building additional fortresses around. This continued until the Fulk family tied itself with a marriage with the daughter of the English king. Their son ascended the throne of England in 1154 and began a war with France because of the appropriation of his lands by the French. Then the king of England became Richard the Lionheart, who went to fight on the Holy Land and was meanly captivated by the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who entered into a conspiracy with Philip Augustus. To free Richard, his brother Jean the Landless gave a lot of land, including Losh Castle. But Richard, who received freedom in 1195, returned his castle in just a couple of hours. After 4 years, Richard the Lionheart died, and his son Arthur was killed by Jean the Landless, thus becoming king. In 1204, the French blockade of Losh Castle began and lasted a whole year until it fell. Later, the castle set up a prison.
Nowadays, you can safely walk along some of the basements of Losh Castle, in which Charles VII equipped a torture chamber. In the basement there are shackles in which the unfortunate was chained before their quartering. You can immediately see a copy of the cage where Bishop Balu lived eleven years. Most interesting in the Donjon castle, which can only be reached through the tower with embrasures, which stands three meters above the ground. Previously, most likely there was a front staircase. In the dongzhon itself is a spiral staircase, through which you can reach the roof. It offers a beautiful view of the entire county. From the roof it becomes clear that a huge castle with thick camps guards a small village.
