Who built the Chateau de Chinon?
King Henry II
The English King Henry II built much of Chinon castle in the 12th century to serve as an important regional control centre: he was also the Count of Anjou.
What is Chinon France known for?
Chinon, town, Indre-et-Loire département, Centre région, western France, on the banks of the Vienne River, south-southwest of Tours. It is famous for its medieval streets and a ruined château, where the first meeting between St. Joan of Arc and King Charles VII of France took place in 1429.
When was Chinon built?
While a Roman fortification existed on the site dating back to the 5th century, the first castle within Chinon was constructed during the 10th century by the Count of Blois, Theobald I. In 1044, the Counts of Anjou took control of Chinon as they expanded their domain into Touraine.
Who was in Chinon?
It has been presumed that it depicts members of the Plantagenet family in Chinon, the two crowned figures possibly being Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, or their son Henry the Younger, crowned during his father’s lifetime in 1170.
What does Chinon mean?
Chinon (French pronunciation: [ʃinɔ̃]) is a commune located in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Region Centre, France. The regional area is called the Touraine, which is known as the “garden of France”. It is well known for its wine, castle, and historic town.
What grape is Chinon?
Cabernet Franc grape
Chinon wine is made from the Cabernet Franc grape, finely nuanced by its links to this distinctive terroir. When grown in the light, sandy-gravel soils along the banks of the Vienne, Chinon is rounded on the palate, supple and easy to drink.
Is Chinon worth visiting?
Only half joking, the Chinon nuclear plant is much more viewable than any in the U.S., from passing roads. While it is 100% worth visiting (elevator to the lower town), the castle at Chinon is a ruin.
Is Chinon in Anjou?
Château de Chinon is a castle located on the bank of the Vienne river in Chinon, France. In 1156 Henry II of England, a member of the House of Anjou, took the castle from his brother Geoffrey, Count of Nantes, after Geoffrey rebelled for a second time. Henry favoured the Château de Chinon as a residence.
Is Chinon the same as Cabernet Franc?
Bourgueil, Chinon, and Saumur-Champigny are all made almost exclusively with Cabernet Franc. These wines are dry, elegant, and medium-bodied red wines with a fine berry-like fruit, often marked by slightly grape stalk tannins in the aftertaste. In good years, these wines can recall Bordeaux wines.
What kind of wine is Chinon?
Did you know ? Chinon wine is made from the Cabernet Franc grape, finely nuanced by its links to this distinctive terroir. When grown in the light, sandy-gravel soils along the banks of the Vienne, Chinon is rounded on the palate, supple and easy to drink.
Where is the Chateau de Chinon in France?
Photo Gallery. Chateau Chinon is a large castle that dominates the town of Chinon, and extends along a raised plateau above the river Vienne, in France’s Loire Valley. The castle at Chinon is rich in history, and dates back more than 1000 years, at which time the original castle was built on the site of an even earlier Gallo-Roman fort.
When was the first castle in Chinon built?
While a Roman fortification existed on the site dating back to the 5th century, the first castle within Chinon was constructed during the 10th century by the Count of Blois, Theobald I. In 1044, the Counts of Anjou took control of Chinon as they expanded their domain into Touraine.
When did Joan of Arc go to Chateau de Chinon?
On 6 March 1429 Joan of Arc arrived at Château de Chinon. She claimed to hear heavenly voices that said Charles would grant her an army to relieve the siege of Orléans. While staying at the castle she resided in the Tour du Coudray.
How old was Charles VII when he lived in Chinon?
King Charles VII lived in the Chateau de Chinon from 1427 to 1450. Chinon is the place where the 18-year old Joan of Arc came to implore the Dauphin of France (the future Charles VII) to give her an army, claiming that “she was sent by God to drive the English from France”. The Dauphin was a neurotic and under confident man.
