The city of Chinon is in west-central France along the Vienne River in the Loire Valley "The Valley of Kings". The area is
mostly hilly agricultural land with sunflower fields & wine orchards as far as the eye can see. Its narrow, winding streets
contain many houses of the 15th and 16th centuries. The most famous monument in Chinon is its castle Le Chateau Chinon. The
castle is about 1300 feet long by 230 feet wide. The main tower is 115 feet tall. Chinon is also the birthplace of Francois
Rabelais (1493-1553), a famous Renaissance writer.
History of Le Chateau Chinon: There are three castles joined together: Le Chateau du Milieu (center) with the royal
apartments where Joan of Arc met Charles VII. Le Fort de Coudray (western end) with towers & dungeons including the Tour
de Coudray, one of the best-preserved keeps in France. And Le Fort Saint Georges built in the 12th Century now in ruins.
It was first constructed in 954 on a steep plateau by Theobald I, the Count of Blois. In the 10th Century it was
enlarged to include the lands of Blois and Turns. In 1044, after 50 years of fighting, it was owned by Geoffroy Martel,
the count d' Anjou Touraine. He was the first to join the walls of the two original defensive structures as well as adding
towers and the chapel of St. Melanie. The far east wing was added by Henry II, the King of England, when England ruled that
part of France. They continued construction work, adding the fortress to the east and the internal chapel, the mill tower
and the numerous reinforcement towers. Richard the Lionheart (Henri II's son) was another famous person who died here in
1199. John Lackland, descendant of Henry II, abandoned the fortress in 1205 after a year-long siege, leaving it to the
King of France Philippe Augustus and uniting the Touraine region with France. In the 15th century Chinon became the most
important castle in the Kingdom and the kings of France also strengthened it from 1427-1450. It became the home for the
court of Charles VII, the king of Bourges. Jeanne d' Arc (Joan of Arc) visited the castle in 1429 in an effort to convince
the future Charles VII to lead France against England and reclaim their land during the Hundred Years War. At 20 years old
Joan of Arc was captured and burnt alive at the stake in the city of Rouen in 1431. In 1562 the castle came into the
possession of the Huguenots and was turned into a State prison by Henri IV of France. By the 17th Century castle was
neglected by Cardinal Richelieu and his heirs. They allowed the castle to slowly disintegrate, so that their town of
Richelieu would become 'the most beautiful town in the universe'. It was abandoned until 1793 when, during the Reign
of Terror, the castle was temporarily occupied by Vendeans. Soon after it was left to decay until Emperor Napoleon III
began a partial effort at restoration. In the 19th Century the ramparts and towers were pulled down. In 1854 Prosper
Mérimée launches a restoration campaign and repairs the ancient southern wall.
There are full-size huge catapults on the grounds of the castle.
