Vendôme, Medieval town in Loir-et-Cher, France
Vendôme is a town in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France, where the river divides into several arms. The center sits on both banks, with bridges connecting the neighborhoods and enclosing islands in between.
A Gallo-Roman settlement stood here in the first century and was later developed into a fortified castle. The area received the rank of duchy in the sixteenth century and remained an important fief until the Revolution.
The name comes from the Gallic tribe of the Veneti who once settled here. Several old wash houses along the riverbank show how residents used the Loir in daily life.
Marked walking paths lead through the old town and along the canals to the main buildings. The tourism office offers maps with different routes that vary depending on interest in architecture or nature.
Small trout swim in the river on warm days and can be seen clearly through the channels. The old weirs still regulate the water level today and supply some mill buildings with flow.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
