Château de Sansac, Castle in Loches, Indre-et-Loire, France

The Château de Sansac in Loches consists of a central two-storey logis between two tall gables, extended on either side by two low, single-storey pavilions added in the 19th century. A double frieze of circles marks the upper floor level across the facade, and four pairs of round-arched twin bays signal the staircase above the entrance steps, which ends in a roof topped by a small lantern. The entrance door carries a bust of François I.

Louis Prévost de Sansac built the castle at the start of the 16th century; the date 1529 carved on a bust of François I above the entrance door probably marks the completion of the central part. In 1689 Madeleine Luthier, widow of François de Vonnes, owned it with the land of Fontenay and left it to Bonne-Catherine Luthier. After the Revolution it was acquired by Cyprien-Joseph-Louis, marquis de Bridieu, and his wife Élisabeth Mallevaud de Marigny; their son François Henri Antoine was born there. Two low wings were added in the 19th century, and the castle was inscribed as a monument historique on 12 May 1927.

The name comes from Louis Prévost de Sansac, who built the castle in the early 16th century; his surname derived from the estate he owned in Saintonge, in Charente, not near Loches. The 1529 date carved above the entrance bust of François I probably marks the completion of the central part.

The castle stands east of Loches town centre, on the edge of one of the Indre's many arms, at the boundary with Beaulieu-lès-Loches. The entrance door is reached by a short stair, and the 1529 date is carved on the bust of François I above it. The building is a private property, so visits are not open to the public.

The facade displays a copy of a royal sculpture of King François I that replaced the original which was lost. This artwork was likely crafted by one of the Renaissance's leading sculptors and shows how important royal patronage was to the owner.