Photo : Benjamin Smith / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Châteauroux
Founded in the 10th century around a fortress built by Raoul the Broad, prince of Déols, the town that took his name keeps in the Château Raoul, now the département's prefecture, the only medieval remnant still standing of the original fortress. Set on a promontory above the Indre, its turreted silhouette is reflected in the calm river, one of the most picturesque views of the town.
The town centre, largely modernised after the destruction of the Second World War, has kept some mansions and the Church of Saint-André, while the Musée Bertrand, in the former mansion of the general of that name, presents an eclectic collection recalling in particular the Napoleonic era. A prefecture in a rural, wooded region, Châteauroux is a starting point for the ponds of the Brenne and the many châteaux of the Bas-Berry.
