France June 2016 - Montrichard
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Leaving Bourges, we drove west-northwest towards the Loire Valley, land of the chateaus. Our first stop was the Feudel keep of Montrichard (about 12 miles east of Tours). Although we could see the keep from a distance as we approached, we could not find it when we drove in to the little town.
The Keep, or Donjon, was clearly visible from a distance.
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After criss-crossing the town, we finally found it. Even then, it took a little walking around to find the the entrance.
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| In the 11th century, land was the only source of weath and power in this moneyless, tradeless time. The Keeps were a way to control the land. The feudal keep at Montrichard was one of 23 keeps built by the Count of Anjou, Foulques Nerra, the Black Falcon (970-1040). |
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The Count of Anjou built 23 keeps, each one on the highest hill around in order to oversee the surrounding countryside. The keeps were one day's march from each other, so that the Count could always sleep in one of his Keeps. Each square-shaped keep consisted of three levels: a dungeon below ground, a hunting lodge, and a guard room. It had nine foot thick walls; no one was getting in uninvited!
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| The view from the Keep of the River Cher, looking south. Anyone traveling on the river was easily visible. |
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| Looking west. We didn't realize at the time but the beautiful Chateau de Chenonceau was only six miles or so up the river. |
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| Looking east. |
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The Keep looks a little worse for wear but it is almost 1,000 years old.
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We discovered a surprisingly interesting multi-level museum built into the hill.
Here is a painting of the Keep as it looked back in the day. Like almost every building we would see in France, the Keep had been added on to over the years.
The Count of Anjou was a remarkable man. He lived to the age of seventy, unusual in the middle ages. In addition to the 23 keeps, he built many churches and monasteries. He also built the first bridge that crossed the River Char at Montrichard. And most amazing, he made at least four pilgrimages across the Mediterranean to Jerusalem.
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