Thouars - Saint-Laon

Thouars was an Aquitanien fortress, placed in a loop of the river Thouet. It was conquered and burnt down in 762 down by Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, who was accompanied by his 14 years old son, the future Charlemagne.

A monastery was founded at this place in 1021. It was centered around relics of the popular Saint Lô (aka "Laud de Coutances"). The pilgrimage to these relics outgrew the early buildings soon and so a large church (and a bridge over the Thouet) got built during the first half of the 12th century. The massive Romanesque bell-tower seen here dates back to that church. A younger gothic bell tower, that existed as well, collapsed in 1711.

The church get rebuilt, reconstructed, renovated many times. In a little chapel is the grave of unfortunate Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France. To establish a diplomatic alliance during the 100 Year´s War, the daughter of James I of Scotland, was married to Louis XI of France (aka "The Prudent") at the age 11. Louis was 14 years old. He never liked her, she was mobbed by the French royal court and died, totally depressed, in 1445.