On a riverbank an hour from Tours, Montrésor is a fairytale village with a rich history. The remains of an 11th-century fortress are visible, but it’s the impressive Renaissance castle that dominates. The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste houses an Annunciation by Philippe de Champaigne (1602–1674). In 1849, Xavier Branicki, a Polish count and friend of Napoleon III, restored the castle and filled it with art: sculptures by Pierre Vaneau, plus Italian Renaissance and Dutch paintings.
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Branicki gave his name to one of the streets, whose houses are partly cut into the rock behind. The wool market, the Halle de Cardeux, has been restored as a cultural centre and exhibition space. The 16th-century Logis du Chancelier, which has a watchtower, houses the town hall. A riverside walk, Balcons de l’Indrois, provides wonderful views of the village, and its Jardinier Bridge was built by Gustav Eiffel’s workshop.
