ON the TRACES OF THE OLD MONTLOUIS

Origin of the name
In the VI th century, the bishop of Tours, St-Gregoire, designated Montlouis/Loire under the name of "Mons Laudium". In the XIIth century, this name evolved and became "Mons Laudiacius" coming from the name of a Roman rich person "Laudacius" living in the heights of Montlouis. Then from the XIVth century to the Revolution, it was "Montlouis" or "Montloué" in favour of king Louis whose first name could be pronounced Loué. Called Mount-Libre in 1793, then "Montloire", the commune took again its current name after the Revolution.

St-Laurent church
Dominating Loire, the church is magnificiently located and offers a splendid sight. Note, on the frontage, the sundial which provides the time during centuries to the parishioners. The church was built on the ruins of a vault of Vth century. In the XIth and XII th century were built the apse, the chancel and the bell-tower base with a pure Romanesque style . The remainder was built in the XVIth century. In 1870, it was restored and it is undoubtedly into 1905 that on the frontage of the principal entry was engraved the currency of the French Republic "Freedom, Equality Fraternity" in order to establish the church as a public property. Inside , the two side aisles were restored in the XIX century. The central nave goes back to 1830. On the right-hand side of the chancel one can admire the manioral vault which was added in the XVth century .One can also notice the central stained glass window with two superimposed scenes: Crucifixion. The bell-tower was replaced in December 1999.

The Church Square
In the XIIth century, the square of the church was a cemetery. This last was transferred to its current site before 1700. The basements of the houses located vis-a-vis the church conceal bones and craniums.

Presbytery
The presbytery is classified as a historic building and is installed in a private mansion of XVIth century of pure Renaissance style whose northern frontage dominates Loire. It owes its fame to its beautiful attic windows with the contours surrounded of a shell. The legend says that king Henri IV and Gabrielle d' Estrées, the girl of Babou owners of the castle of Bourdaisière, lived their first love there.

Courtemanche Square and Albert Baillet
The port of Montlouis/Loire was vis-a-vis the Courtemanche square. The paved descent is the only one of this type which remains. Goods such as the wine, the tuffeau, butter and bacon were transported to America and Holland. By this means, Montlouis was supplied with oil and salted pig. Under the majority of the old houses there are cellars where these various goods were stored. The port of Montlouis was also used as stopover for the travellers in departure for Roanne, Nevers, Orleans and Nantes.

A view on Loire
More than 3000 boats sailed on Loire until 1843, where one attended the end of Loire navigation with the creation of the railroad. The majority of the boats were "barges", flat-bottomed boats allowing to transport the goods, as an engraving attests it on the frontage of the church. The Loire Valley is strewn with sand beaches, of strings of i wooded slands (the small island St-Brice, the Courtemanche island, the island of Bondésir, the small island of Tilery). Since November 30, 2000, a part of theLoire Valley of which Montlouis is recognized as a world inheritance of Humanity by UNESCO.

Quay of Albert Baillet Residence of Ramée
Located on the quay vis-a-vis to Loire, this residence points out to the presbytery by its attic windows decorated with contours crimped of a shell. Also named "Bath of François the 1st, this house was built in the XVIth century under his orders to be used as an appointment of hunting. His hosts, if they could not remain inthe castle of Bourdaisière, came to spend the night in this residence.

Way of Trou Calas
Originally , the development of the troglodytic dwellings is due to the exploitation of the tuffeau but also to the vine growing. The conditions of temperature offered by the tuffeau (approximately 13 degrees during all the year) allowed the excavation of cellars. The vine growers, wanting to live near their cellars, also dug their home in the rock. These residences were a long time comparable to the home of the poor, where many middle-class and manioral houses were also built there. Since the Seventies ,one attends a renewed interest on behalf of the townsmen who wish to unite with nature.

Quay of Albert Baillet: Cellars of the Priesthood
It is here that the cellars of the Priesthood were located whose owner was one of the most important wine merchants of Touraine. From now on, and since 1986 this residence became, the House of Loire. Many animations and exhibitions make it possible to discover the edges of Loire, its fauna and its flora.

Way of Bondésir
One can admire there the private castle of Bondésir which dates back to the 15 th century. It sheltered many celebrities such as Carlotta Grisi, the great Italian dancer. The rumour claims that George Sand and Alfred de Musset would have come to visit him in 1834. Then prince Radziwill lived there in 1865 as well as the singer Paulus who was well-known in his time in 1885.