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Origin and history

The dungeon of Loches, built in the first half of the 11th century by Foulques Nerra, Count of Anjou, is one of the oldest Romanesque stone dungeons of France. It is part of a strategic military complex, designed to control the Indre Valley and compete with the Counts of Blois for the domination of the Touraine. Its architecture, marked by a 36-metre master tower and a small dungeon reinforced with foothills, reflects the defensive innovations of the era. The site, occupied from ancient times, was already mentioned by Gregory of Tours in the fifth century as a fortress ("castrum").

The Loches fortress plays a key role in medieval conflicts, especially between the houses of Anjou and Blois. In 1042, Count Blois was captured and imprisoned in the dungeon after an aborted siege. Foulques Nerra, then his son Geoffroy Martel, used Loches as a base for incursions into enemy territory. Peace was restored only in 1044, after the victory at the Battle of Nouy. The dungeon, symbol of power, is also a place of detention for prisoners of war, such as Geoffroy de Donzy, seigneur of Saint-Aignan.

In the 12th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Plantagenets and was taken over by Philippe Auguste in 1205, thus integrating the royal domain. Henry II Plantagenet strengthened the ramparts and moats in the 12th century, while Louis IX (Saint-Louis) made it a royal residence in the 13th century. The royal residence, built in the 14th and 15th centuries under Charles V and Charles VI, hosts historical figures such as Jeanne d'Arc in 1429. From the 15th century onwards, the dungeon was transformed into a state prison, housing illustrious prisoners such as Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, who died there in 1508 after painting frescoes in his cell.

The architecture of the dungeon evolves with military progress. The round tower, built in the 15th century (perhaps under Charles VII), partially replaces medieval defences, adapted to cannons. The Royal Gate, redesigned in the 13th and 15th centuries, illustrates this modernization, with its mâchicoulis and archères-canonières. The site, classified as a Historic Monument in 1862, also includes a collegiate church (Saint-Ours), a royal residence, and successive enclosures, reflecting its strategic and symbolic importance.

The Loches dungeon, used as a prison until 1926, retains traces of its prison functions, such as the Ludovico Sforza dungeon or the "Torture Hall". During the Revolution, the castle was looted and partially ruined, before restorations in the 19th century. Today, the site, owned by the municipality, is open to the public and offers a complete panorama of the evolution of medieval fortresses, from Roman origins to the Renaissance.

Archaeological excavations and dendrochronological analyses confirm that the dungeon was built between 1013 and 1035, in just a few years. Its thick walls (up to 3.40 metres at the base) and semi-cylindrical foothills make it a model of Roman military architecture. The site, with its 4,77 hectares lined with a 1.1 km enclosure, still dominates the Indre Valley, recalling its historic role as a strategic lock between Anjou, Touraine and Orléan.

Future

Today Loches' dungeon is open all year round for visits. It allows to discover a major piece of art of war in the Middle Ages. And plunges us into history by discovering defensive techniques, dungeons, torture rooms, the governor's house. From 40m above ground to 20m below ground level in its underground!

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