Montrichard Le Cher2Montrichard Le Cher2
©Montrichard Le Cher2

The town of Montrichard

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Nestled along the Cher river, the medieval town of Montrichard offers the perfect complement to a tour of the Loire Valley châteaux — a true journey back in time.

Ideally located for the first stop of the day, it’s just a 15-minute drive from the majestic Château de Chenonceau, the Royal Château d’Amboise and the medieval town of Saint-Aignan.

This authentic 11th century town immerses visitors in a rich medieval atmosphere, with its iconic keep, ancient fortifications, winding cobbled streets, medieval historic heritage and a breathtaking view of the Cher Valley.

 

rue Porte au Roi - accès au donjon
©Coeur de ville de Montrichard|SudValdeLoire
    remparts-montrichard-vue-ci.jpg
    ©Remparts de la cité de Montrichard|SudValdeLoire

      The Keep

      Built on a hill seized by Foulques Nerra from the Counts of Blois, the keep was originally constructed to defend the County of Anjou and to guard the strategic crossroads between the ancient east-west Roman road and the north-south route to Compostela.

      In 1188, the fortress was reclaimed from the Plantagenets by King Phillipe-Auguste. Over the centuries, the Counts of Amboise reinforced the keep’s defenses, adding three successive walls between the 11th and 15th centuries. Later, during the turmoil of the Wars of the League, King Henri IV ordered the tower to be reduced by twelve feet — “to the height of infamy” — as an act of revenge.

      montrichard-041.jpg
      ©Donjon de Montrichard|SudValdeLoire
        maisons-colombages-cite-mon.jpg
        ©Maisons à colombages dans la Cité de Montrichard|SudValdeLoire

          Half-timbered houses

          Dating back to the second half of the 15th century, these picturesque half-timbered houses were sheltered by the church bell tower — a stroke of luck that spared them when the royal lodgings collapsed onto the church and nearby homes.

          One of the houses even bears a historic detail: a chimney breast marked by the passage of Anne of Brittany through Montrichard.

          Today, the tourism office is in one of these emblematic half-timbered houses, adding a touch of living history to your visit.

           

          Maison de l’Ave Maria: (currently under restoration)

          Built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, this historic house is traditionally believed to have been the residence of the canons of Aigues Vives, who served at the château’s chapel — the Church of Sainte-Croix. Its name comes from the carved corner post depicting the Annunciation.

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