"Burgundy on the Loire" La Charité by hquittner

Since we were nearby and the Michelin gave it 2 stars (worthy of a detour), we detoured to La Charite-sur-Loire (pop. 5.5K). The city sits above the Loire and is partly surrounded by 12C ramparts (it was a border town of Burgundy). The church was the largest and richest of the Cluniac domain built and modified between 1059 and 1130. The town became Protestant and during the Wars of Religion was one of their strongholds. There was a bloody massacre here after St. Bartholomew's Day In 1429, Joan of Arc tried unsuccessfully to take it by siege. Part of the nave burned down in a fire, (1559) never to be replaced. What repairs were done were after 1695 followed in the next century by the addition of Abbey dependencies. The foundations of the destroyed nave were utilized by the town for dwellings. Thus the still extant West facade stands before the present church with its tall Romanesque Tour Ste.-Croix-Notre-Dame. Ultimately the Revolution ended its use.

• Pros:There is the Church and Monsastery
• Cons:I Cannot rate it 2* like Michelin Does
• In a nutshell:A quiet town with a bloody history