Château de Chinon

A Roman fortification already existed on this site in the 5th century. In the 10th century, the Counts of Blois erected a solid castle, of which no traces remain today. After the Battle of Saint-Martin-le-Beau in 1044, the complex fell to the Counts of Anjou and thus to the English crown. King Henry II had the castle expanded into an important border fortress and died here in 1189. In 1205, the French King Philip II Augustus conquered the castle after a year-long siege. Under his rule and that of his successors, Chinon was extensively expanded and took on its present appearance. During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was lost to the English. King Charles VII resided here and had a large hall built. A historically significant event was the meeting of Joan of Arc with the king in March 1429, during which she convinced him to rush to the aid of Orléans. Until 1459, Chinon served as the French royal court. In 1562, the castle came into the possession of the Huguenots and was converted into a prison under Henry IV. In 1633, Cardinal Richelieu took over the complex, which remained in the hands of his heirs until the French Revolution. Afterwards, the castle fell into disrepair, and even conservation measures under Napoleon III in the 19th century could not stop the decay. Between 2003 and 2010, the Château de Chinon underwent extensive excavation and restoration.

Chinon Castle is located in the town of Chinon in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, France. It is perched at an altitude of approximately 76 m above sea level.

The castle is now accessible to visitors and can be explored. Extensive restorations have made the complex accessible again and a visitor center has been created in Fort St-George. The Clock Tower, the only fully preserved part of the building, houses a small museum dedicated to Joan of Arc. In the royal private rooms, the historical encounter between Joan of Arc and Charles VII is depicted with wax figures. In the keep of the Coudray fortress, the Knights Templar and their Grand Master Jacques de Molay were once imprisoned.

• Château de Montsoreau (castle), approx. 14.1 km away
• Donjon de Loudun (castle), approx. 21.1 km away
• Château de Langeais (château), approx. 21.7 km away
• Château de la Chapelle Bellouin (castle), approx. 23.7 km away