The idea was to head for Tours when we set off this morning, but somehow, the day disappeared when we stopped for lunch in Richelieu. We’d somehow veered off any main routes just after Poitiers and ended up coming through this interesting looking town.
Richelieu takes its name from its founder, Cardinal Richelieu, who at one time was the second most powerful man in France (after King Louis Xlll). He had a palace and then the town built bearing his name – must have been loaded! 🤣
We walked around the grounds of the palace, it was as big as Wollaton Park and full of lovely autumn colour. Sadly, you have to imagine the chateau bit, as it was damaged and plundered during the revolution, then later demolished.
After doing a full circuit of the park, we walked into the old town through one of its many gates. It’s laid out in a grid system which was apparently quite innovative at the time, but now copied by many modern towns and cities. The timber framed market hall and big church are still in use and probably look the same as they did all those years ago (1631-1642). Hopefully, the creepy figurine in the corner of the church won’t last that long! There was a nice big square in the middle but not many people around as it was mid afternoon.
Getting back onto the route, we continued up to Tours, but the planned parking didn’t seem to exist and it was all a bit late in the day so the traffic was building. We’ll have to try again another time.
Parked just a bit further north in a little village called Villedômer, which according to the sign on the way in, is twinned with …wait for it, Stapleford! 🤣
