Travel in France – Issoudun

posted in: France, Home, Travel | 2

Issoudun has a long history, with evidence of settlement since at least 2000 BC. By the Middle Ages it was the second largest town in the Berry and one of the stages on the Pilgrim Route from Vézelay to Santiago. It was the end of a long day and the light was fading, but I did my best!

The Church of St Cyr was started in the 15C and completed in the 19C

The Church of St Cyr, Issoudun
The Church of St Cyr, Issoudun

The Church of St Cyr, Issoudun

The Church of St Cyr, Issoudun

The Belfry used to be the main entrance into the fortress and still lead into the old, fortified part of the town. In WWI the tower was used as a prison. In the 12C Issoudun was on the borders of English Plantagenet territory and the Kingdom of France and often under attack. The Tour Blanche is a donjon from the 12C, built by Richard the Lionheart.

La Tour Blanche

The Hotel de Ville opposite La Tour Blanche dates from 1731, with a modern addition and an installation of mirrors.

The boules pitch next to the walls and La Tour Blanches
The boules pitch next to the walls and La Tour Blanche
Theols River, Issoudun
Theols River, Issoudun

 

You may be interested in
Photographs of Issoudun
A brief history of Issoudun

 

2 Responses

  1. Brian Cope

    I am trying to track down the Courtaudon family in Issoudon, Francoise who died in Paris 14 in 2001 and her brother Jean who died in Issoudon in Aug 2020. I was a great friend of Francoise and was sad to hear she had died at only 48. How would I get more information?

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