Chinon, the fortress city
The capital of the Loire valley is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. It stretches over limestone hills, with the River Vienne running alongside it. The royal fortress looking down on the city provides a wonderful panorama over the medieval town. Below, three troglodyte caves provide an unusual wine-tasting experience focusing on the famous Chinon wine.
The royal fortress of Chinon
The royal fortress, perched on a rocky spur, is a vast walled enclosure surrounded by ramparts and a series of towers. A visit to the “three castles” is an immersive journey back in time, from the 12th to the 15th centuries. With the Histopad, available free of charge at reception, visitors can experience a 360° virtual reconstitution inside each building.
In the 12th century, the fortress was one of the main strongholds of King Henry II, the Plantagenet king of England, who kept his treasure here. The Logis Royaux (royal residence) was in a state of ruin for almost 200 years, but has now been completely restored. Here you can see a furnished reconstitution of King Charles VII’s and Marie of Anjou’s apartments, as well as an exhibition devoted to Joan of Arc, who came here to meet the king in 1429.
Children can set off with their game booklet in search of hidden clues and get to know the principles underlying medieval architecture. At the heart of the fortress of Chinon, visitors can relax on deckchairs on the wide, green esplanade and enjoy some Touraine specialities and refreshments at the restaurant.
The medieval district of old Chinon
Along the route of the GR 3 trail, a hill walk leading to the Sainte-Radegonde Chapel provides an exceptional view over the slate roofs of the listed sector. The historic centre of Chinon is protected by the castle looking down from the city’s heights. Here you will find some beautiful half-timbered houses, private residences and charming Gothic façades.
On the corner of Rue Haute-Saint-Maurice and Rue du Grand Carroi, the art and history museum contains a portrait of Rabelais painted by Delacroix. Rabelais, the author of Gargantua, was born in La Devinière, near Chinon. He is still the main figure associated with the city, as can be seen in the bronze statue watching over the town or the pedestrian street named after him.
Near Place Jeanne d’Arc, to the east of the town, the Chanoines district has some fine houses around Place Saint-Mexme and in the neighbouring streets. The tastefully decorated buildings were made of tuffeau stone.
From the left bank, you can admire a panoramic view over the lower town with the banks of the River Vienne and the fortress ramparts towering above. On the first weekend in August, a
big medieval market takes over the city. Visitors can see a reconstitution of a medieval camp with jousting knights and enjoy a wide range of activities.
Troglodyte wine cellars
Chinon is a great wine landmark, famous for its vineyards both on the left bank of the Loire and on either bank of the River Vienne. You can buy and taste wine in a large number of wine cellars nestled all over the city of Rabelais. But the city’s most remarkable feature is probably the cellars dug out of the rock in the old tuffeau stone quarries.
Les Caves Painctes, in the walls of the old town, consist of several underground galleries dug out below the Chinon fortress. This historic site is mentioned in the works of Rabelais and is now home to the Syndicat des Vins de Chinon (Chinon Wine Federation). The guided visit includes a fountain known as the “Dive Bouteille” (“Divine Bottle”). Around it are contemporary sculptures containing almost 2,000 bottles.
Two other private wine cellars are open for visits to troglodyte caves. Here Chinon wine is aged in casks. The former quarries mined to provide stone to build the Loire châteaux have the perfect cool atmosphere for maturing wine. The wine tasting on offer at the Cave Monplaisir or the Cave Plouzeau features Chinon wine exclusively!
