Chinon, Medieval fortress town in Loire Valley, France
Chinon is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Loire Valley, where a medieval fortress rises above the Vienne River. The historic center spreads at the foot of the castle walls, with narrow streets and half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th centuries.
King Henry II of England made the fortress his residence in the 12th century and died here in 1189. In 1429, Joan of Arc met Dauphin Charles VII in the castle and persuaded him to travel to Reims for his coronation.
The town name comes from the Celtic word for rock, reflecting the position on a limestone plateau. People still live in troglodyte homes along the river, and many cellars store local wine.
The medieval town center sits between the riverbank and the castle walls, where shops and restaurants line Rue Voltaire. Weekly markets take place on Place Jeanne d'Arc, and most sights are within walking distance.
The vineyards around the town grow mainly Cabernet Franc, a grape variety cultivated here since the Middle Ages. Many wine cellars along the riverbank are carved into limestone and stay cool all year round.
Location: Indre-et-Loire
Location: arrondissement of Chinon
Elevation above the sea: 57 m
Part of: Centre-Val de Loire
Shares border with: Beaumont-en-Véron, Cinais, Cravant-les-Côteaux, Huismes, Rivière, La Roche-Clermault, Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt
Address: 37500 Chinon, France
Phone: +33247935300
Email: sbergeault@ville-chinon.com
Website: https://ville-chinon.com
GPS coordinates: 47.16694,0.24278
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:42
Photo license: CC BY-SA 3.0
The Tour de France 2025 takes place from July 5 to 27 and marks the 112th edition of this major bike race. It is one of the three biggest road cycling events of the year. This collection shows the towns where the Tour caravan will stop, from northern cities like Lille and Dunkirk to the Norman lands and beyond. Each stage crosses regions full of history and character. You will see port towns facing the English Channel, old mining areas turned into new places, and medieval towns where the buildings tell stories of the past centuries. From Dunkirk’s bell tower to Lille’s fortifications, from Amiens’ cathedral to the half-timbered houses of Rouen, these spots show the country’s history. Some towns also have museums and monuments that remember key moments, like Caen with its memorial, or Bayeux with its famous 11th-century tapestry. Following the Tour is also about traveling through these regions and seeing how cycling has been a part of daily life for more than a hundred years.
Chinon Castle
520 m
Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde de Chinon
844 m
Collégiale Saint-Mexme
224 m
Maison rouge
376 m
Jeu de paume
452 m
Église Notre-Dame de Rivière
3.5 km
Église Saint-Étienne de Chinon
521 m
Église Saint-Maurice de Chinon
514 m
Château de Coulaine
4.3 km
Prieuré des Roches-Saint-Paul
4.7 km
Maison des États généraux
385 m
Fort Saint-Georges
339 m
Île de Tours
269 m
Château de La Roche-Clermault
4.6 km
Château de Fromentières
4.5 km
Hôtel de la Maîtrise des eaux et forêts
613 m
Palais du Bailliage
476 m
Château de Contebault
4.4 km
Couvent des Augustins de Chinon
65 m
Maison aux Dragons engoulants
377 m
Hôtel des Gouverneurs
416 m
Château de la Vauguyon
2.7 km
Hôtel Bodard de La Jacopière
612 m
Caves peintes de Chinon
305 m
Couvent des Calvairiennes de Chinon
800 m
Hôtel, 28 rue Hoche
210 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Épine de Parilly
2.5 km
Maison de Rabelais
180 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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