Chinon castle

The royal Forteresses of Chinon
37500 Chinon
Passes and other advantages
TER(regional express train) LOISIRYS: on production of the travel voucher enjoy a reduced rate. Visitors with a West Touraine Passport will be granted a preferential rate.
Open all year round
Tarif : 7 €, 4.50 €
 (gratuit -12 ans)

Simply impressive

Located at the crossroads of three provinces - Anjou, Poitou and Touraine-, the fortress of Chinon extends from its rocky outcrop, overlooking the village, and overlooking Vienna which passes below...

This beautiful fortress is simply impressive! Its remarkable fortifications hanging on the rock, spanning over more than five hundred metres, they are actually three different piece of art works, separated by ditches on the Eastside, fort Saint-Georges, on the West, the fort du Coudray, and lying in the centre, the middle castle containing the Logis Royal. The appearance of the castle reflects the strategic importance of the place.

Rich in history and story.

The fortress of Chinon’s actual structure was imagined by Henri II Plantagenet, count of Anjou, later King of England, and father of King Richard... Principally, the fortress is known for being the home of the future King of France, Charles VII during the hundred year’s war. And it is in Chinon that Joan of Arc came to stand for the first time for the 'Dolphin' in March 1429...

Ces événements appartenant au passé depuis longtemps, pendant de nombreuses années, le château a présenté une silhouette caractéristique de murs et de tours en ruine… Cependant, un ambitieux chantier de restauration a été entrepris dans les années 2000, redonnant à la forteresse son lustre d’antan : les murs et les tours ont été relevés, des toitures édifiées… Les Logis Royaux par exemple ont été restaurés à la façon d’un logis du XVème siècle. Voilà une bonne raison de venir à Chinon , notamment pour ceux qui ont connu la forteresse ayant sa restauration ! Le château ressemble maintenant beaucoup plus à son état durant le Moyen-Âge…

The fortress of the third millennium

The Castle, after having travel through time, was falling into ruins... However, an ambitious restoration work was undertaken in the years 2000, restoring its antique lustre, the walls and towers were repaired and the roofing fixed... The Logis Royal for example has been restored as a tourangeau from the 15th century. This is a good reason to come to Chinon, especially for those who have experienced the fortress before the restoration! The Castle now looks much more like its State during the middle ages...

In addition to making new skin, Chinon is now anchored in his era: this 'fortress of the third millennium", interactive and lively, offers to visitors a new scenography project dedicated to the great characters that have marked the history of the fortress, the Plantagenet to Joan of Arc.

For school groups, many activities are proposed, a walk with role play for toddlers, as well as several thematic tours and activities for children, such as workshops "A construction site in the middle ages", which children reveals the secrets of the construction of a castle fort around a model of a castle under construction.