be readily obtained
in the town and its environs. All kinds of provisions are exceedingly
plentiful, which with the numerous fruits and wines are to be obtained
at very moderate prices.

SPORTING.

The lovers of rural sports and pastimes, may find much to interest them
in this and the neighbouring departments. The Loire and the Cher afford
excellent diversion to the angler, and occasionally to the fowler, being
during the autumnal and winter months sometimes frequented by large
flocks of aquatic birds. The wild boar and the _chevreuil_, a small but
elegant species of deer, are to be found in the forest; the vast
intermediate tracts of arable land are however for the most part but
thinly stocked with game.

CHATEAUX.

The ancient chateaux within an easy distance of Tours merit the
attention of the antiquarian, some of them possessing historical
associations of a highly interesting character. The principal are the
chateaux of Loches, Chenonceaux, Chinon, and Amboise; of which
respectively, for the gratification of those who feel a pleasure in
journeying to gaze upon these sombre and for the most part dilapidated
monitors of the "instability of all sublunary things," we will proceed
to enter upon a brief description.

LOCHES.

The vast fortress of Loches,--which is twenty five miles from
Tours,--has been the residence of many of the kings of France, since it
was occupied by Philip Augustus.

Within the range of its former precincts the Tomb of the famous Agnes
Sorel in black marble may still be seen. As may also the dungeon in
which Ludovico Sforce duke of Milan was confined in 1500.

The castle, or rather prison, which it is said was founded during the
Roman domination in this part of the country, presents some striking
specimens of its pristine magnificence.

We are informed that in this abode of terror, there were dungeons under
dungeons, some of them unknown even to the keepers themselves; men were
frequently doomed to pass the remainder of their lives here, breathing
impure air and subsisting on bread and water. At this formidable castle
were also those horrible places of confinement called _cages_, in which
the wretched prisoner could neither stand upright nor stretch himself at
length.

The celebrated cardinal Balue was confined here by order of Louis
11th, for many years in one of these cages. The Duke of Alencon,
Charles de Melun and Philippe de Commines were also imprisoned in thi