Starting from the third century, the evangelization of the Loir Valley took place only very slowly, so lively was the pagan tradition, and so was chaotic time of the barbarian invasions. The advent of the Merovingian instituted relative peace. At the end of the seventh century Richemer a rich and pious Tourangeau, asked Aigilbert, Bishop of Le Mans, to assign "a poor place where he could live as poor as Jesus Christ." Thus he established his hermitage on the edge of the Loire, with the Turris dominica, the Tower of the Lord, the original castle which remains a base above the Cave of the Virgins, are perhaps the remnant. But soon enough, his followers were so numerous that it had settled into a site less wild. He founded his monastery in a nearby location, the name of St. Rimay perpetuates his memory.