Chinon (French Château de Chinon) – is one of the royal castles of the Loire, located in Chinon, located near the Vienne River, Indre-et-Loire department (French Indre-et-Loire) see “Castles of the Loire on the map”. It was built on the site of former Roman fortifications and consists of three parts, built according to historical need.
Chinon City Travel Guide

Chinon castle (Loire Valley). West riverside Coudray and Milieu Chateau Ruins, Saint Maurice quarter, la Vienne
The photo of the beginning of the 20th century shows the castle of Chinon on the Loire with a brief caption about its foundation, about the king of England, Joan of Arc and Louis XIII (author’s collection)
City of Chinon, the history and the sights.
Old city, the center is the Hall Square (place de l’Hotel de Ville). On its southern side is the Vienne embankment, which leads to Jeanne d’Arc Square (pl. Jeanne d’Arc) with an equestrian monument to the Virgin of Orleans.
Further, the road along Osh Street (rue Hoche) leads to the ancient church of Saint-Maxime (Collegiale St-Maxime). You can return back along the street Jean-Jacques Rousseau (rue J.J. Rousseau), where the church of Saint-Etienne (Eglise St-Etienne, 1477-1483, in the style of “flaming Gothic”) is located.
At the crossroads with Rue du Puy-des-Bancs, beautiful houses of the 15th-16th centuries have been preserved.
If from pl. l’Hotel de Ville, walk along Voltaire Street, you will see many houses of the 15th century and find yourself near the old urban center of Grand Carrois. Here is a beautiful and typical Maison Rouge house (Maison Rouge, XV, “red house”). Nearby is the former home of the Estates General. If you go further along Voltaire, you will see the former manager’s mansion (XVII century), the church of Saint-Maurice (Eglise St-Maurice, XII) and the mansion of the XV century.
Along the Charles VII embankment (quai Charles VII) you can reach the bridge, which offers a magnificent view of the city and the castle. From the bridge, rue Carnot leads back to the Grand Carro, and then a tour of rue Jeanne d’Arc leads to the castle. An old well has been preserved on the corner, on which, according to legend, Jeanne d’Arc, who arrived from Vaucouleurs in Chinon, leaned on, dismounting from her horse.
What else is interesting:
Every August, Chinon hosts a “medieval market” – a theatrical performance where all the merchants dressed in medieval costumes sell handicrafts and folklore groups perform.
Wine Museum (Musee Anime du Vin)
Located at rue Voltaire, 12, opening hours 10.00-12.30 and 14.00-19.00
In the museum, anthropomorphic mechanical dolls show the process of making wine and wine barrels. The program of the tour also includes a tasting of wine and grape jam.
Tasting room (Maison du Vin de Chinon) is open from 10.00 to 17.00
House-Museum of Rabelais (Maison Rabelais)
Located 5 km. southeast of Chinon. Open daily 10.00-17.00
There is a small museum in the house where the author of Gargantua and Pantagruel was born.
Museum of Atomic Energy (Musee de l’Atome)
8 kilometers to the west of Chinon. Open May-September, entry upon presentation of a passport, advance reservation required.
In 1963, the first nuclear power plant in France was opened near Chinon. Now it is available for a guided tour (duration 1 hour 30 minutes). You can see two museum fields and four operating reactors.
Guided tour of the Chinon Castle
To get to the castle, you need to climb the steps of Jeanne d’Arc Street to Fort St. George (Fort St-George, XII), which protects the eastern approaches to Chinon. From the fort there is a suspension bridge across the moat to the chapel of the Tour de l’Horloge tower, through the gates of which we get into the middle castle (Chateau du Milieu). There is a small Museum of Joan of Arc in the tower. Continuing along the fortress wall, we come to the place of the Throne Hall (Salle du Trone), from which the western and southern walls have been preserved. The treasury (Tour du Tresor) adjoins the south, and the royal apartments (Grand Logis Royal) – several buildings of the XII-XV centuries adjoin the west. They contain:
– Armory (Depot d’Armes)
– Kitchen (Cuisines)
– assembly hall (Salle du Commun)
– bedroom (Sommellerie)
Behind the moat to the west is the castle of Coudray
Chinon Castle, practical tourist information
Opening hours: from mid-March to September 9.00-18.00, in July-August 9.00-19.00, in October 9.00-17.00, from November to mid-March at 9.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00.
Ticket price: 8.50 (6.50) euros.
How to visit Castle and city from Paris.
Public transport. From Paris you need to get to the cities of Tours or Poitiers. Further by bus or train SNCF from Tours 47 km. southwest or from Poitiers 80 km. to North. Or:
- Private tours to the Loire Valley castles by car or minibus with an English-speaking guide or with a only driver guide (a more economical option plus one seat is added for your company).
WW1-WW2 battlefield tours: add to your program a visit to military museums and French Defense sites on the Loire in 1940
Royal Castle of Chinon, a brief history
In 954, the main building of the castle was built on a mountain spur by the Count of Blois Thibaut I (“Swindler” or “Rogue”).
In 1044, the stone fortress, which had already replaced the wooden buildings, passed into the possession of his opponent Geoffrey Martel, Duke of Anjou. The duke united the walls of two defensive structures (the Middle Castle and the Coudray Castle), completed the towers and the chapel of St. Melania.
Henry II Plantagenet, King of England and descendant of the Dukes of Anjou, built the eastern part of the castle. This part was called the fortress of St. George, in honor of the patron saint of England. Work on the construction of the eastern fortress, the chapel, the mill tower and other defensive towers was carried out by Henry II and his descendants until 1205.
In 1205, Chinon Castle, after a months-long siege, passed into the hands of King Philip Augustus of France. After the capture of the castle, work began on the construction of the Watch and Dog Towers, new walls and canals. The construction of the castle continued until the 15th century, when the royal chambers with a large throne room were built.
In 1308, many Templars were imprisoned in Chinon Castle when the order fell out of favor.
Crown Prince Charles, expelled from Paris by the Burgundians, established his residence in Chinon.
In 1429, when Henry V of England claimed the throne, Charles met Joan of Arc at Chinon. Encouraged by Joan’s words, Charles decided to rise again against his opponents and was eventually crowned under the name of Charles VII. Chinon Castle became a royal residence. Soon, Queen Mary of Anjou and the favorite of the king Agnes Sorel settled here, whose chambers were connected to the royal underground passages.
Charles VII founded a state in Chinon, free from the obsolete institutions of feudalism. It was during his reign that the castle experienced its most glorious time.
Louis XII at the castle of Chinon received the legate of Pope Alexander VI, Cesare Borgia, who handed him a notice of annulment of his marriage to Jeanne de Valois. Thus, Louis XII received the right to marry Anne of Brittany, the widow of Charles VIII, thus annexing Brittany to his possessions.
In the 17th century, Chinon Castle became the property of Cardinal Richelieu, who left it as a legacy to his descendants, but in a very deplorable state. The throne room and some other buildings that did not correspond to the spirit of modern times were destroyed. The castle fell into disrepair, the floors and ceilings collapsed.
In 1854, a gradual reconstruction began, caused by the risk of the castle collapsing. In the royal chambers, the floor was restored according to the original drawings, and the rooms themselves were furnished with copies of antique furniture.
Chinon castle architecture: on the territory of the castle are the buildings of the royal chambers and the church. Three parts stand out in the fortress, three castles – Middle, Coudrey and Saint-Georges.
Fort Coudray was erected on the edge of a cliff and separated from the castle by a dry moat.
Fort Saint-Georges served to protect the castle from the more dangerous side – the plains. Little remains of this fort, excavations are underway here.
To get to the castle, you need to climb the steps of rue Jeanne d’Arc to Fort St-Georges, which protected the eastern approaches to Chinon. From the fort, on a suspension bridge across the moat, we get to the Clock Tower (Tour de l’Horloge, XIII century), through the gates of which you can enter the Middle Castle (Château du Milieu). The base of the Clock Tower is small, so from a distance it looks like a stone column. The mechanism in the clock was installed in 1399, and the tower itself now houses a small museum of Joan of Arc.
Interesting facts or the Date with Jean d’ Arc.
The exact date of Joan of Arc’s arrival in Chinon is unknown. She herself claimed that the Dauphin received her immediately. Before that, he convened the Royal Council, which discussed the advisability of Charles meeting with an unknown prophetess. Through the environment, she conveyed the purpose of her visit, said that the King of Heaven instructed her to lift the siege of Orleans and bring the king to Reims for the coronation. The king decided to listen to her. He was only 26 years old, but he was already quite a mature person, smart and well educated. According to legend, the meeting with Jean d’ Arc took place in full view of the entire court. Late in the evening, she was led into a brightly lit hall with courtiers (more than 300 people). Jeanne unmistakably found Charles among the crowd of dressed-up courtiers and, embracing his knees, delivered a speech: “Noble Dauphin, my name is Jeanne the Virgin. The Lord has sent me to help the kingdom and crown you in Reims as his viceroy. Then she publicly called the Dauphin the son of the king and the real heir to the throne. After that, they talked about something in private for a long time, but their conversation remained a secret.
What to see in Chinon Castle.
The castle has a Treasury (Tour du Tresor), royal apartments (Grand Logis Royal) – a complex of buildings of the XII-XV centuries. Armory (Depot d’Armes), kitchens (Cuisines), Assembly Hall (Salle du Commun), bedroom (Sommellerie).
Practical tourist information, how to visit
Chateau Chinot is not included in the classic sightseeing tour from Paris to the Loire Valley under the Three Castles in One Day program. But we recommend including Chinon in your individual program.
- Loire Valley private tours by a car from Paris or Charles de Gaulle airport (Orly, Beauvais)
* The city of Rouen is associated with the name of Jeanne d’ Arc. We also offer interesting guided tours from Paris to Normandy with a visit to the city of Rouen.