1000 Years Old and Shaped the Modern World

Historian and author Ian Mortimer has a new book out. It's called 'Centuries of Change' and to publicise it he wrote an article for the Guardian newspaper entitled 'The 10 Greatest Changes of the Past 1000 Years'. We were thrilled to see that the very first item on the list was 'Castles' and illustrated by a Lansyer painting of Loches.

The castle keep at Loches (above) was built in the early 11th century, and is the first of its kind in France. We love Loches, and although it's not so well known to visitors as the Renaissance chateaux in the Touraine Loire Valley, we encourage our clients to see it. Whilst you are there, take advantage of the buzzing twice weekly market in the town and don't miss the medieval royal apartments. You even can pop in to Lansyer's former home and see the originals of his beautifully rendered views of the town and citadel. Loches is one of the best preserved late medieval and renaissance towns you will find, with not a modern building within sight in the old centre of town.

If you would like to visit this secret gem of a town, email us and we will include it in your customised itinerary.