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Chinon Castle Tower and Museum
Picnic area and campground across riverVisit the famous chateau and then . . .
"Visit a winery."
Domaine le Perriere is in the Chinon appellation and a lovely place to visit.
The chateau, of course, is a must see. You may appreciate a small flashlight when you go down into the dungeon where Joan of Arc was kept prisoner. I really sympathized with her when we descended that staircase.
One of the chateau rooms has period costumes on mannikins and that is fun. The views from the ramparts are spectacular up and down the Vienne, one of the major tributaries to the Loire.
Take time to enjoy the town too. Chinon is a lovely medieval village and the people are very friendly. Find a cafe along the river and just enjoy the view for a while.
When you look up at the chateau, it seems to be nearly in the sky. You can see the entire chateau and ramparts from across the river and it is an amazing sight. If I were an enemy attacking, I certainly would have second thoughts on first sight.
There are old siege machines on view inside the chateau to give you some idea of what people went through in those days. They didn't get along any better than we do today. You'd think we would gradually become more civilized, now, wouldn't you?
The view from the chateau ramparts. It is utterly lovely. You often see paragliders flying through the sky above. It looks like such fun. Check in the Tourist Office and perhaps you can join them. The town of Montrichard not too far away has a place that gives paragliding lessons. It must be so quiet floating up there with the birds.
