Chinon France - Loire Valley - IndigoGuide Chinon

Chinon France - Tourist Travel Guide - French Holidays

When you approach the town by car, the Chateau de Chinon looks pretty impressive. It consists of 400m of ramparts and towers on top of a hill above the River Vienne, which from down below inspire feelings of awe. Everything within the ramparts, however, is in ruins and the medieval town below rather touristy, which can leave you with a sense of feeling cheated. However, Chinon has redeeming features, notably a good reputation for wine and easy access to other local chateaux, that make it a worthwhile place to spend some time.

Loire Valley: Loire Valley Holidays - Amboise France - Tourist Travel Guide - Angers France - Tourist Travel Guide - Azay le Rideau France - Tourist Travel Guide - Blois France - Tourist Travel Guide - Bourges France - Tourist Travel Guide - Chambord France - Tourist Travel Guide - Chenonceaux France - Tourist Travel Guide - Chinon - Le Mans France - Tourist Travel Guide - Loches France - Tourist Travel Guide - Orléans France - Tourist Travel Guide - Saumur France - Tourist Travel Guide - Tours France - Tourist Travel Guide - Tours Hotels

Chinon

The chateau has three parts to it: the Fort St-Georges on the east side, Chateau du Milieu in the middle, as the name suggests, and the Chateau du Coudray on the west. In the Tour de l'Horloge above the entrance are several rooms given up to the memory of Jeanne d'Arc, who came here in 1429 to persuade Charles VII to fight the English monarch Henry V who had laid claim to Paris and the French throne. Jeanne recognised Charles amongst the courtiers and, much to their surprise, he agreed to her leading his army up north. The room where this took place is the Salle du Throne or Grande Salle. The Coudray tower has graffiti carved by 13th-century prisoners on the walls. The entrance fee is €4.60 and you get a superb view from the ramparts, but don't feel you need to actually go into the castle as it is much more majestic from below, or during the evening when it is lit up.

Map of Chinon

In the medieval town of Chinon there are two decent museums, the local history Musée des Amis du Vieux Chinon (€2.60) at 44 rue Haute St-Maurice, and the Maison de la Rivière (€4) at 12 quai Pasteur, which charts the fortunes of the shipping industry. If you can't wait until dinner you can always try the local Chinon wine in the Caves Peictes, on an impasse near rue Voltaire, which has tastings for €3, but don't confuse this with the kitsch Musée Animé du Vin at 12 rue Voltaire unless you are very short of inspiration.

For hotels Chinon is dearer than other places in the Loire, but the Agnès Sorel at 4 quai Pasteur (02 47 93 04 37) has rooms with beams and some with private river-view terraces for €40-80, and also does bike hire. The rue Voltaire is home to some good restaurants serving local dishes, such as La Maison Rouge at number 38 (02 47 98 43 65) with its assiettes Rabelaisiennes, named after the writer Rabelais who was born locally. Alternatively, the place Général-de-Gaulle has a café atmosphere in the summer with lots of choice.

Book Online at:

Chinon France - www.cottages4you.co.uk

5 Hotels in Chinon - France - Booking.com/hotels-in-chinon-france

French Holiday Homes - www.french-country-cottages.co.uk

Find out more by using Google's
Co-op Search Refinements

World Holiday Travel Guides - Cyprus Holiday Travel Guide & Vacations - Costa Rica Holiday Travel Guide - Croatia Holiday Travel Guide - Dubai Holiday Travel Guide - Paris City Breaks - Greece Holiday Travel Guide - Hawaii Holiday Travel Guide - Ibiza Holiday & Vacation Travel Guide - Italy Holiday & Vacation Travel Guide - Majorca Holiday & Vacation Travel Guide - Malta Vacation & Holiday Travel Guide - Mexico Vacation & Holiday Travel Guide - Portugal Vacation & Holiday Travel Guide - Spanish Holiday Travel Guide & Vacations - Thailand Holiday Travel Guide - France Golf Holidays

Specialist Breaks - Alaska Holiday Travel Guide - World Cruises - Golf Holidays - Grand Canyon Vacations - Climb Kilimanjaro - Las Vegas Vacations - African Safaris - Orlando Vacations

Weekend City Breaks - Buy & Sell Timeshare - Airport Parking - Airport Hotels - Ferry Tickets - Vacation Rentals in Spain - Travel Insurance