FORTERESSE ROYALE Phone
: +33(0)2 47 93 13 45
Fax : +33 (0)2 47 93 93 32 http://www.monuments-touraine.fr chateauchinon@cg37.fr Being built on a rocky spur dominating
the valley of Vienna, Chinon's impressive fortress was built
by the count of Blois. Henri II Plantagenêt, Richard Coeur de
Lion, Jean Sans Terre were the first famous hosts of it. Philippe
Auguste resumed them the fortress and built Coudray's donjon.
The history is also marked by the women, Aliénor of Aquitaine
and especially Joan of Arc who met there in 1429 future Charles
VII. Collection of furniture and tapestries, Joan of Arc museum
in the Tower of the Clock, broadcasting (audiovisual) shows,
animations. Opening 02/01 - 31/03 and 01/10 - 31/12
: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
01/04 - 30/09 : 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Open all the week, closed 25/12 and 01/01 Prices Adults : 3 €
Kids 12-18 years old, reduced price: 4,50 €
Kids < 12 years old: free entrance
school pass : 10 € Ambassador card : 10 €
MUSEE JEANNE D'ARC Association Connaissance de
Jeanne d'Arc
Phone : +33(0)2 47 93 22 57 (Wednesday afternoon) http://jeannedarc.chinon.free.fr/pages/asso.html The tower in which the museum is
housed features part of the 14th century royal apartments and
the 12th century round tower. The collections are displayed
on four floors linked by a spiral staircase.
The collections feature paintings, engravings, sculptures, pottery,
medals, coats of arms and weapons that retrace the amazing life
and times of Joan of Arc. Discover the medieval city with a
guided tour. Opening 02/01 - 31/03 and 01/10 - 31/12
: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
01/04 - 30/09 : 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Open all the week, closed 25/12 and 01/01 Prices Adults : 3 €
Kids 12-18 years old, reduced price: 4,50 €
Kids < 12 years old: free entrance
school pass : 10 € Ambassador card : 10 €
MUSEE D'ART ET D'HISTOIRE 44 rue Haute Sainte Maurice
37500 Chinon
Phone : +33(0)2 47 93 18 12 or +33 (0)6 73 52 05 08 http://www.chinon-histoire.orgorhttp://avchinon.over-blog.com amisduvieuxchinon@chinon-histoire.org One of the most beautiful museums
in Touraine, in the hosue of the Estate-general (15th and 16th
centuries) situated in the heart of the old town. Established
in 1906, the museum presents rich collections : archeology,
arts of Middle-Age and Renaissance (the renowned Cope of Saint-Mexme,
12th century), earthenwares from Langeais and Nevers, masterpieces
of craftguilds, paintings from the 16th to the 20th century
(Portrait of Rabelais by Eugène Delacroix). Opening
02/05 - 30/09 : all the week 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
02/01 - 30/04 and 01/10
- 31/12: all the week
except wee-end and holidays 2:00
PM - 6:00 PM Prices
Full price : 3,50 €
Kids <12 years old : free entrance
MUSEE
ANIME DU VIN ET DE LA TONNELLERIE 12 rue Voltaire 37500 Chinon
Phone/Fax : +33(0)2 47 93 25 63 The museum, which has been opened
since june 1st, 1979, is the work of one man, a native of Chinon.
It took him five years to collect all the tools exhibited, and
2500 hours to make the automatons. In the rooms, you will see
the various implements in use at the end of the nineteenth century
for the making of wine: casks, a wine-press, an open cask, a grape-picker,
... Some of the tools are brought to life again by fourtheen automatons.
Free taste of wine and "fouées".. Opening 03/03 - 15/10 : all the week 10:00
AM - 22:00 PM
Full price : 4,50 €
Kids 7-12 years old : 3,50 €
MAISON
DE LA RIVIERE 2 Quai Pasteur 37500 Chinon
Phone : +33(0)2 47 93 21 34 http://www.cpie-val-de-loire.org maison.de.la.riviere@free.fr In the friendly frame of a historic
building carefully renewed, at the edge of Vienna, the House of
the River invites you to investigate the universe of Marine de
Loire. Through an unique collection in france of models of boats
ligériens, please , discover the tremendous epic of the skippers
of this royal river. Opening 01/07 - 30/09
10:00 - 12h30 AM and 3:00 - 6:30 PM all the week except monday
Free Visit Adults : 3 €
Kids from 12 years old: 2 €
LA
CHAPELLE SAINTE-RADEGONDE Coteau Sainte Radegonde 37500 Chinon
Phone : +33(0)2 47 93 18 12 http://www.chinon-histoire.org amisduvieuxchinon@chinon-histoire.org This underground ensemble was undoubtedly
already a place of workship in pre-Christian days. In the 6th
century it was inhabited by John the Recluse, a hermeit who, tradition
holds, received a visit from Queen Radegonde. On the death of
this holy man, his cell was transformed into a sanctuary. In the
11th centurythis was enlarged and embellished with a wall painting,
discovered in 1964, of a royal riding party, which is believed
to represent Henry II Plantagenêt leading Alienor of Aquitaine
into captivity. The chapel was again restored in the 17th century
by Father Breton, to whom we owe the paintings of the miracles
of Sainte Radegonde. The ensemble is composed of three cave dwellings
along with interesting galleries housing an exhibition of traditional
objects assembled by the Museum of Art and History in Chinon.
Opening Information at the Tourist Office From July to 19/08 : 10:00 AM -
06:00 PM Prices Full price : 3 €
Kids <12 years old : 2 €
EGLISE
SAINT-MAURICE rue Haute St Maurice 37500
Chinon Being built under Henri II Plantagenêt
(12-15th centuries).
Joan of Arc prayed there in 1429. Opening All the week excepted sunday 01/07 - 31/08 : 3:00
- 7:00 PM Opened during the guided tours
EGLISE SAINT-ETIENNE rue Philippe de Commines 37500
Chinon (15th century).
Remarkable western facade, unique nef with capital richly decopriced. Opening All the week excepted sunday 01/07 - 31/08 : 3:30
- 6:30 PM
COLLEGIALE
SAINT-MEXME rue
Diderot 37500 Chinon
Phone : +33 (0)2 47 93 21 34 http://www.ville-chinon.com serviceculturel-chinon@wanadoo.fr Former convent in the 5th century
became collective towards 990, completed in 11-12th centuries.
Concerts in season.. Opening :
29/07 : 3:00 - 6:00 PM
05, 12 and 19/08 : 3:00
- 6:00 PM Closed to the visit for
restoration, opened during the guided tours
LES
CAVES PAINCTES Les caves Painctes de Chinon 37500
Chinon
Phone : +33(0)2 47 93 30 44
Fax : +33(0)2 47 93 36 36 http://www.chinon.com/wine/index.html Located in the surrounding wall of
the City Hardly of Chinon, they constitute a place of pilgrimage
for the admirers of Rabelais. Their aspect did not modify for
the 16th century. They push profoundly their network of underground
passages under the medieval fortress. In these former careers,
transformed into storerooms from the 15th century by the chinonais
middle-class persons, the father of Rabelais either somebody of
friends or relative possessed, no doubt, his small particular
vault where he preserved religiously the wine of the memorable
years. The brotherhood of Good Entonneurs Rabelaisiens, consideyellow
as one of the most prestigious of france holds solemn chapter
four times a year under the vaults of its famous Cellars Painctes
and organizes exceptional Chapters on inquiry. Opening 01/07 - 29/08 : from tuesday to
sunday
4 visits per day : 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Prices 3 € with taste Kids <12 years old : free entrance
CAVES
COULY-DUTHEIL 12
rue Diderot
37500 Chinon Phone : +33(0)2 47 97 20
20 - Fax : +33(0)2 47 97 20 25 http://www.coulydutheil-chinon.com Visit our wine caves dating from
the 10th century ... In Chinon, we welcome visitors with a guided
tour, endinf in the tasting room where you can sample the wines.
The boutique provides you with the complete range of Couly-Dutheil's
wines. Opening 01/04 - 01/11 : from monday
to wednesday 1 visit 3:00 PM
01/07 - 31/08 : from monday to wednesday 2 visits :11:00 AM and
3:00 PM Prices Full Price : 3 € with taste
CAVES
PLOUZEAU 94
rue haute Saint-Maurice
37500 Chinon
Phone
: +33 (0)2 47 93 32 11 http://www.plouzeau.com In the médiévale town center, we
propose you a visit of our wine cellar dug at the 12 century into
the rock and overlooked by the castel of Chinon. Stones have been
extrated from this cave to built up Chinon Castel. Belong to Plouzeau
Familly, this caves are now used for storing wines in the best
conditions. In this place, visitors who love history and wines
are wellcome. We enjoy to receive you for a tasting of wines from
Chinon and Loire. Opening 01/04 - 30/09 : from tuesday
to saturday 11:00-13:00 AM and 13:00-7:00 PM
Open sunday from april to august
01/01 - 31/03 et 01/10 au 31/12 : saturday 11:00-13:00 AM and
13:00-7:00 PM Prices free entrance
LA
CAVE MONPLAISIR Quai
Pasteur
37500 Chinon
Phone
: +33 (0)2 47 93 20 75 Unique in the Loire Valley, the Monplaisir
cave was formely a large 2500 square-metre quarry. Following an
age-old tradition in Touraine, this place has been converted into
a cellar for hte storing and ageing of wine. Walking along the
impressive galleries, you will find lots of treasures such as
the 700 barrels full of Chinon wine and thousands of bottles.
Coaches and cars will park by the entrance to the cellar on a
large car-park. Visit and free taste ! 15/03
- 15/06 and 16/09 - 15/11 (except wednesday)
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM 16/06
- 15/09
10:00 AM - 7:30 PM
PETIT
TRAIN TOURISTIQUE Tourist Office Phone : +33(0)2 47 93 17 85
Fax : +33(0)2 47 93 93 05 or Group reservation service Phone : +33(0)6 17 42 48 40
Fax : +33(0)2 41 91 25 80 guillaume-dittiere@hotmail.com From
the castle to the middleage part of the town, the small touristic
train offers you a discovery of the history of Chinon.
40 unforgettable minutes with an historical commentarye. Custom circuits for groups, French, English
or German historical comments Opening 01/07
- 31/08 : all the week
Departures every 45 mn from 2:30 PM Prices Adult : 4,50 €
Kids 3 - 12 years old : 2,90 €
Groups : on reservation
ELSIE's
GARDEN 1-5 Route de Huismes 37500 Chinon
Phone : +33(0)2 47 98 07 58 http://www.elsiederaedt.com elsie@elsiederaedt.com The
garden of plantswoman, writer and landscape designer Elsie De
Raedt is formal and natural at the same time. Old and new roses,
rambling or groundcovering are mixed with collections of iris,
daylilies ans asters. A 1000 perrenials, trees and grasses decorate
the old gentilhommière of the "secretary of the Duchess
of Angoulême" (1845). Admire the rose "Elsie De
Raedt", merit for her International reputation as a rose
expert. Try the rose perfume which Elsie has developped for gardenladies. Opening All of the year only on appointment
for a guided tour.
