Fodor's Expert Review Best Western Hôtel de France
47 pl. du Général-de-Gaulle, Chinon, Centre-Val de Loire, 37500, France
Right on Chinon's most charming square—a picture postcard come to life with a splashing fountain and a bevy of cafés—stands this agreeable inn, which has been housing guests since 1577. Many regional notables lodged here before the Revolution, when it became the Hôtel Lion d'Or, the first hostelry in the region. The wood-beam rooms are comfortable and cozy; some overlook two tiny, flowerpot-bedecked courtyards, while others take in views that include Chinon's fortress. The restaurant, Au Chapeau Rouge (closed Monday; no dinner Sunday or lunch Tuesday), serves regional cuisine, and there's also a brasserie for lighter, less expensive fare.
PROS
- good-value restaurants
- free parking at night
- set in the heart of Chinon
CONS
- small guest rooms and bathrooms
- no elevator
- contemporary decor lacks character
