Who was François Villon, the medieval poet-thief?
Born in Paris in 1431, François de Montcorbier known as Villon is the most paradoxical writer of the 15th century: a Sorbonne master of arts at 21, and already a thief and murderer at 24. In 1455, he killed a priest in a brawl. In 1456, he took part in the Collège de Navarre burglary: 500 écus stolen, forced exile. He wrote the Lais. For five years he wandered, wrote the Testament, frequented the Coquille (criminal underworld). Then he arrived in Meung-sur-Loire.
1461: the arrest and the "dungeon of Mehun"
Thrown into the cells of the Meung château — summer residence of the bishops of Orléans — on orders from Thibault d'Aussigny, a prelate known for his severity. Villon never forgave him. In the Testament, four vengeful stanzas: "Be Thibault d'Aussigny! / God do unto him as he has done unto me!". The guides at Meung still mention the "Villon dungeon" — a troglodyte cell carved into the limestone rock.
Water torture and the death sentence
Villon mentions the "water question", standard judicial torture: the prisoner, strapped, had to swallow several liters of water through a funnel. The verdict was hanging. The poet awaited execution in the dungeon. That is where he composed the famous Ballad of the Hanged: "Human brothers who live after us, / Do not harden your hearts against us…". The most moving text in the French language was born in a cellar in Meung-sur-Loire.
How Louis XI saved him at the last moment
On July 22, 1461, Charles VII died. His son Louis XI made a joyful entry into Meung-sur-Loire on October 2. Medieval tradition: at each royal entry, prisoners were pardoned. Villon walked out free, haggard. He returned to Paris, wrote his absolute masterpiece — the Testament — within months, then disappeared in 1463. Without that royal coincidence, 200 meters from our house, French poetry would have lost its greatest medieval author.
Visiting the underground passages today
The Meung-sur-Loire château offers a tour descending into the troglodyte underground. The visit lasts about 1h15 and covers bishop's apartments, chapel, oubliettes and "Villon dungeon". Tickets around €13 adult, open April to November. The descent is striking: narrow staircase, persistent humidity, low ceiling, that cell carved into limestone. Take the guided weekend tour for richer anecdotes.
Readings and podcasts to prepare your visit
Three resources. Read: Ballad of the Hanged and Testament in bilingual Folio edition. Listen: podcast "Au cœur de l'Histoire" by Stéphane Bern dedicated an episode to Villon. Watch: film "Je François Villon" by Serge Meynard (2009). Half a day of preparation turns the dungeon visit into a literary pilgrimage.
From La Maison du Château, a 3-minute walk from Meung château. A morning visit, lunch at a market square brasserie, and you leave with a story few Parisians know.