Home Destinations Europe France The Loire Valley Sights Fortresse de Chinon

Fortresse de Chinon Review

Read our Loire Valley sights reviews. Or post your own.

Fortresse de Chinon

Phone: 02-47-93-13-45
www.forteresse-chinon.fr

Category: Castles/Palaces
Location: Chinon

Write a review

Fodor's Review:

Currently undergoing restoration and only partly visitable at this writing, the vast Fortresse de Chinon is a veritable fortress with walls 400 yards long. It dates from the time of Henry II of England, who died here in 1189 and was buried at Fontevraud. Two centuries later the castle witnessed an important historic moment: Joan of Arc's recognition of the disguised Dauphin, later Charles VII; the castle was also one of the domiciles of Henri II and his warring wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. At Chinon everything is open to the elements, except the Logis Royal (Royal Chambers). Here there's a small museum containing a model of the castle when it was intact, various old tapestries, and precious stones. For a fine view of the region, climb the Tour Coudray (Coudray Tower), where in 1307 leading members of the crusading Knights Templar were imprisoned before being taken to Paris, tried, and burned at the stake. The Tour de l'Horloge (Clock Tower), whose bell has sounded the hours since 1399, contains the Musée Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc Museum). There are sensational views from the ramparts over Chinon, the Vienne Valley, and, toward the back of the castle, the famous vineyard called Le Clos de l'Echo.

Cost: EUR 3
Open: Apr.-Sept., daily 9-7; Oct.-Mar., daily 9:30-5

Find more sights in The Loire Valley »