You probably all know the story of the Three Musketeers, Porthos, Aramis and Athos and of course d’Artagnan ‘Musketeers of the Guard’ in King Louis Xlll’s Court.
Armand Jean du Plessis Duke of Richelieu
The book, written by Alexander Dumas, plays out the story of many fictional characters and is set in the 17th Century, but some in his book were real life characters. Cardinal Richelieu was one of these, born in 1585, he went on to become one of the most powerful and richest men in the known world of its time. He was appointed as Foreign Secretary in 1616 after becoming a Consecrated Bishop in 1607 and later a Cardinal in 1622. Perhaps becoming a Cardinal would not have been his choice, but one chosen by his Mother, this was to protect an important income from an ecclesiastical source for the family. His rise to power was one of court intrigue, with plots and counter plots. The death of the King’s favourite, the Duc de Luynes allowed Armand Jean du Plessis Duke of Richelieu to rise to be the most powerful man in France.
What is his connection with the Loire Valley?
In the National Park, 22 km south of Chinon, lies the small and historical walled town of Richelieu which was constructed under the watchful gaze of the Cardinal. The vast open park next to the town was once the site of the Cardinal’s Palace just few buildings are now left of this magnificent building.
depicting the now demolished palace
Some years earlier, 1343 to be exact, salt became a State monopoly and was subsequently taxed via the Gabelle tax. The ‘Great Gabelle’ area encompassed sixteen special tribunals or ‘salt grannaries’ including Richelieu. The wealth of the Cardinal enabled him to buy the village of his ancestors and proceeded to, in 1631, commission the construction of his new model town and which was completed in 1642. The town still stands today but the Chateau was destroyed in 1835.
This brief history and life of the Cardinal Richelieu and of the town of Richelieu can be expanded upon by following on of the links below or by booking some time here in the Loire Valley with us.
Richelieu is one of the towns we visit on are cycling experience holidays. We also visit Chinon, Candes st Martin, Fontevruad l’Abbaye and many others in the region. You will stay in a single centre for your entire weeks holiday. For more details follow the link to our cycling holidays.
YOUR SINGLE CENTRE CYCLING EXPERIENCE HOLIDAYS EXPLAINED HERE
For places to stay with us here in the Loire Valley
https://airbnb.com/h/loirevalleyleisureholidays-gite
https://airbnb.com/h/loirevalleyleisureholidays-bnb
https://airbnb.com/h/loirevalleyleisureholidays
For more information follow the links below
Richelieu, Indre-et-Loire – Wikipedia
Cardinal Richelieu – Wikipedia
