Forteresse royale de Chinon
Forteresse royale de Chinon
Forteresse royale de Chinon
4.3
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The royal fortress of Chinon has been built between Xth century and XVth century. It has been restaured on XXIth century. Come and discover all of famous figures of the fortress : the Plantagenêts, the Kings of France Philippe Auguste, Charles VII and Joan of Arc. Full price : 8.50 € Reduced rate : 6.50 € Free for children less than 7 years.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.3
1,464 reviews
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Noel A
Leeds, UK52 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
We hadn't planned to visit, but stopped in Chinon for a coffee and walked up to the chateau afterwards. You couldn't see much from outside, so we paid the modest entrance fee, went in, and were absolutely blown away by the best historical interpretation site I've ever visited.
The fortress itself is central to some really significant parts of French and English history, still mostly intact and very imposing - the views over the Vienne and surrounding countryside alone justified the entrance fee.
Every visitor is given a tablet, ( included in the entry price, not a chargeable extra). It guides you round the site and gives location-specific information, including immersive views of interiors and exteriors as they were in their heyday. This is particularly effective in "putting back" now demolished buildings like the great hall that were once significant parts of the site. It's really, really well done and adds to the printed information that's also liberally distributed around the site.
I can't recommend it enough and wish we'd had more time available, a half day wouldn't have been overlong. There is a pleasant cafe to break up what's quite a long walk if you go round all of the site and to the top and bottom of various towers.
The fortress itself is central to some really significant parts of French and English history, still mostly intact and very imposing - the views over the Vienne and surrounding countryside alone justified the entrance fee.
Every visitor is given a tablet, ( included in the entry price, not a chargeable extra). It guides you round the site and gives location-specific information, including immersive views of interiors and exteriors as they were in their heyday. This is particularly effective in "putting back" now demolished buildings like the great hall that were once significant parts of the site. It's really, really well done and adds to the printed information that's also liberally distributed around the site.
I can't recommend it enough and wish we'd had more time available, a half day wouldn't have been overlong. There is a pleasant cafe to break up what's quite a long walk if you go round all of the site and to the top and bottom of various towers.
Written 20 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Noel,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this kind comment. Thank you very much for your comment. We're delighted that you enjoyed your visit ! 😁
See you soon in Chinon, the fortress team
Written 22 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bandit-One
Lucerne, Switzerland10,478 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
This fortress/chateau is really a must-see if you're anywhere remotely close to the area.
This fortress sits there on the hill behind the village, towering above it. It makes a really impressive sight from the other side of the river.
The history is a colorful one: Count of Blois built the earliest known castle on the mount of Chinon in the 10th century, but there have been settlements on this hills since 3000 years! By 1205, Chinon was one of the last castles in the Loire Valley. It fell to French forces in the Easter of 1205 after a siege of several months.On 6 March 1429 Joan of Arc arrived at Château de Chinon. In 1454 French Queen Marie D'Anjou made the fortress her main residence. Later on Cardinal Richelieu was given the castle to prevent it from coming under the control of unfriendly forces, though he allowed it to fall into ruin. Since 1840, the castle has been recognised as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. Between 2003 and 2010 the castle was the subject of a massive excavation and restoration project, costing 14.5 million euros.
Now it sits there in all its glory. Many rooms can be explored, many towers and walls. There's a huge amount of sights and information to take in here. As well as wonderful valley views. Picnic spots, a restaurant, toilets and of course a souvenir shop. Dogs are welcome as well, our Bulldog had a good time here.
With the entrance fee comes a tablet with a self-guided virtual tour, very very well done this! There are guided tours as well, but for us the self-guided tour was really good enough.
It is really an impressive fortress/chateau. And there were surprisingly few visitors for this kind of sight on the summer weekday. It might be different on a weekend.
Entrance fee is very fair, staff very friendly. A really great place that you shouldn't miss.
This fortress sits there on the hill behind the village, towering above it. It makes a really impressive sight from the other side of the river.
The history is a colorful one: Count of Blois built the earliest known castle on the mount of Chinon in the 10th century, but there have been settlements on this hills since 3000 years! By 1205, Chinon was one of the last castles in the Loire Valley. It fell to French forces in the Easter of 1205 after a siege of several months.On 6 March 1429 Joan of Arc arrived at Château de Chinon. In 1454 French Queen Marie D'Anjou made the fortress her main residence. Later on Cardinal Richelieu was given the castle to prevent it from coming under the control of unfriendly forces, though he allowed it to fall into ruin. Since 1840, the castle has been recognised as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. Between 2003 and 2010 the castle was the subject of a massive excavation and restoration project, costing 14.5 million euros.
Now it sits there in all its glory. Many rooms can be explored, many towers and walls. There's a huge amount of sights and information to take in here. As well as wonderful valley views. Picnic spots, a restaurant, toilets and of course a souvenir shop. Dogs are welcome as well, our Bulldog had a good time here.
With the entrance fee comes a tablet with a self-guided virtual tour, very very well done this! There are guided tours as well, but for us the self-guided tour was really good enough.
It is really an impressive fortress/chateau. And there were surprisingly few visitors for this kind of sight on the summer weekday. It might be different on a weekend.
Entrance fee is very fair, staff very friendly. A really great place that you shouldn't miss.
Written 31 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Bandit-One,
We're delighted you enjoyed your visit! Thank you very much for your comment.
See you soon in Chinon,
the fortress team
Written 1 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cogito Ergo Sum
Province of Padua, Italy26,454 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Chinon was the last of the five castles in the Loire we visited during our recent holiday but, not for this reason, the least valuable, quite the contrary. Arrived on site at 5pm 🕔 directly from the Chateau de Villandry, we parked the car at a free parking area 🅿️ 🆓️ walking to 🚶🏻🚶🏻♀️ the structure 🏰. Having already purchased tickets online 📱 well in advance, we limited ourselves to validating them at the checkout, where we were also given handhelds with interactive guides (HistoPads). Very useful these supports, able to offer 3D planimetric reconstructions of the various environments of the visiting circuit, of course with the related audio explanations 🔊 in Italian 🇮🇹 (at least in our case). In drink we then started our tour which, between one thing and another, lasted pleasantly until 18.30 🕡. I must say that, of all the castles visited in Gallic land 🇨🇵, this is the one that more than any other presents the connotations of the classic medieval fortified village. The building actually dates back to the 10th century while, centuries later, the meeting between Joan of Arc and King Charles VII of France took place here. Definitely noteworthy are the internal exhibition rooms but, undoubtedly, to have impressed us in a particular way were the external environments such as the walkways (breathtaking 😮 the panoramic views of the Loire valley) and the watchtowers. One of the latter even has underground spaces that can be visited, perhaps formerly used as prisons, where you can perceive a significant temperature variation by descending the steps of the narrow staircase (very pleasant on hot summer days 🥵 🌞). Once the visit ended we put the PDAs in a basket at the exit. Finally, to return to the parking lot 🅿️ we took advantage of the shuttle service 🚐 free 🆓️ made available to visitors. Certainly RECOMMENDED 👍🏻.
Automatically translated
Written 27 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Salve,
Grazie per i vostri gentili commenti. Siamo lieti che abbiate apprezzato la visita alla fortezza, sia all'interno che all'esterno, e anche il tour Histopad. Saremo lieti di accogliervi nuovamente nel nostro castello. ❤
A presto a Chinon, il team della fortezza
Written 9 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brad
Hong Kong, China182,476 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
This is the Royal Fortress above the city of Chinon and Vienne River in the Loire Valley. Opening hours are 9.30am to 5-7pm depending on the season. Entry is €10.50 per adult. We found free parking along Ave. François Mitterrand around 4-5 minute walk to the fortress entrance. There is a gift shop and toilets at the entrance and within the fortress. There is a cafe within the fortress grounds as well.
This is a different visit experience to many of the famous French Renaissance chateaus in the region. As the name implies, what you find is a more typical castle fortress. Visit comes with a HistoPad and includes 9-10 specific points of interest where you can learn about the history, architecture, restorations as well as famous figures who resided or made appearances here including Joan of Arc. Some of the towers requiring climbing several levels up and/or down if you wish to visit each fully. Allow 75-90 minutes for a leisurely visit.
We really enjoyed our visit to the Royal Fortress of Chinon. It was a nice change of scenery to the French Renaissance castles elsewhere. Of note, there is a nearby lift down to the lower level streets of the village below. This allows visitors to spend a couple hours exploring and perhaps having a meal or coffee in addition to spending time at the fortress.
This is a different visit experience to many of the famous French Renaissance chateaus in the region. As the name implies, what you find is a more typical castle fortress. Visit comes with a HistoPad and includes 9-10 specific points of interest where you can learn about the history, architecture, restorations as well as famous figures who resided or made appearances here including Joan of Arc. Some of the towers requiring climbing several levels up and/or down if you wish to visit each fully. Allow 75-90 minutes for a leisurely visit.
We really enjoyed our visit to the Royal Fortress of Chinon. It was a nice change of scenery to the French Renaissance castles elsewhere. Of note, there is a nearby lift down to the lower level streets of the village below. This allows visitors to spend a couple hours exploring and perhaps having a meal or coffee in addition to spending time at the fortress.
Written 10 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello BrandinHK,
Thank you for your comment. We're delighted that you enjoyed the Histopad tour! We totally agree with you, visiting the fortress allows you to see something other than a Renaissance castle and to see how kings and queens lived before these great Renaissance castles were built! 😊
see you soon in Chinon,
The fortress team.
Written 18 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amandine T
Reims, France32 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Located in the heart of the old medieval town, the fortress is a must-see.
The visit is done with a histopad which allows you to discover what the place was like in its heyday, inside and out.
The view of Chinon is nice in good weather.
Be careful, there are a lot of steps, not always very regular.
A nearby elevator gives you easier access to the historic center.
The visit is done with a histopad which allows you to discover what the place was like in its heyday, inside and out.
The view of Chinon is nice in good weather.
Be careful, there are a lot of steps, not always very regular.
A nearby elevator gives you easier access to the historic center.
Written 4 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour, nous sommes ravis que la visite avec histopad vous ait plu ! Effectivement, les marches sont nombreuses à la forteresse et elles sont irrégulières, mais c'est ce qui fait le charme des forteresses médiévales 😁
À bientôt à Chinon,
L'équipe de la forteresse
Written 12 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stephane P
89 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We spent 4 hours visiting and it was not enough. Two fun animations took place in the afternoon with a very friendly host, at no extra Award. The Tablet Guide allows you to get an overview of the missing buildings but can put some off. For them, a visit with a real Guide is also possible.
Very clean site, beautiful green spaces, great view, Reasonable Entry Award. For me this is a visit not to be missed.
Very clean site, beautiful green spaces, great view, Reasonable Entry Award. For me this is a visit not to be missed.
Automatically translated
Written 25 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour,
Merci pour votre commentaire, nous sommes ravies que la visite du château et les animations vous ait plu !
À bientôt à Chinon,
L'équipe de la forteresse
Written 1 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
IndianaTravelmom
South Bend, IN342 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Spent 10 days in Loire Valley and consider this a must do stop. This is more of a historic fortress type castle. Interpretive info was good and you get a computer device that outlines stops on the tour and added a lot once we got the hang of it. The castle sits up on a steep hill so we walked the rigorous 8 min climb but there is an elevator too or you could drive up as well. The associated town has a great medieval section well worth a wander too
Written 1 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Indiana,
We're delighted you enjoyed the Histopad tour of the fortress! The town is well worth a visit, and it's a real pleasure to stroll along the banks of the Vienne. 😊
See you soon in Chinon, the fortress team.
Written 9 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nath F
Dahab, Egypt4 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We had a wonderful day at the fortress, we did the escape game which I really highly recommend for families with teenagers ;)
The visit was very interesting, in a very relaxed manner, the views are very nice and even though we didn't have time to visit, the town of Chinon looks beautiful from the fortress so probably well worth a visit itself!
If you're in the area I highly recommend Chinon!
The visit was very interesting, in a very relaxed manner, the views are very nice and even though we didn't have time to visit, the town of Chinon looks beautiful from the fortress so probably well worth a visit itself!
If you're in the area I highly recommend Chinon!
Written 11 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jujul62
Vendin-le-Vieil, France169 contributions
June 2024 • Solo
Beautiful fortress , very nice viewpoint in different place.
Very nice visit, the hisstopad is included in the Award of admission which is really top, allows to see the fortress otherwise, at other times.
Very welcome from the staff. Well-kept fortress. I was able to meet the cleaning staff several times in different rooms each time a smile and a hello. On top
The chairs made available to the visitor in the garden of the fortress allows to lounge ,admiring the view .
Parking near the fortress , a few parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are available at the foot of the fortress .
Do not hesitate to take the time to visit all the rooms of the castle.
If time and desire allow you you can also visit the town of Chinon which is very pretty.
Very nice visit, the hisstopad is included in the Award of admission which is really top, allows to see the fortress otherwise, at other times.
Very welcome from the staff. Well-kept fortress. I was able to meet the cleaning staff several times in different rooms each time a smile and a hello. On top
The chairs made available to the visitor in the garden of the fortress allows to lounge ,admiring the view .
Parking near the fortress , a few parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are available at the foot of the fortress .
Do not hesitate to take the time to visit all the rooms of the castle.
If time and desire allow you you can also visit the town of Chinon which is very pretty.
Automatically translated
Written 11 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour Jujul,
Merci d'avoir pris le temps de nous laisser cette belle note et ce gentil commentaire, nous sommes très heureux de constater que vous avez apprécié votre visite et tous vos compliments nous vont droit au cœur et seront transmis à toute l'équipe.
A bientôt à Chinon,
L'équipe de la Forteresse !
Written 15 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stonecrop49
Saumur, France44 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
An incredible place, full of history and very well presented. Magnificent restored rooms, interesting exhibits for history buffs and magnificent views of Old Chinon, its vineyards and Vienna. The park is also very nice, special mention to the magnificent Sophora of Japan classified remarkable tree. Only downside, you have to be in shape to visit the different towers up and down, the number of steps to climb is... vertiginous! (I dropped the last 2) Fortunately, the furnished parts and exhibitions are easily accessible.
Automatically translated
Written 23 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour Stonecrop,
Nous sommes ravis que la visite vous ait plu ! Effectivement, il y a de nombreuses marches dans les tours de défense, ça permet de faire un peu de sport tout en visitant. 🤣
A bientôt à Chinon,
l'équipe de la forteresse.
Written 25 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi
Does the chateau still have its summer festival and if so when will it be 2025
Written 22 January 2025
Where precisely within the castle did Henry II die?
Written 2 June 2022
forteressechinon
Chinon, France
We do not know exactly where Henry II died in the fortress.
His body was later moved to Fontevraud Abbey.
Written 2 June 2022
Hello, where do you suggest parking if we are driving into town? Arrival around 10:30am.
We may want to get a simple lunch and visit Caves Plouzeau prior to visiting the castle. There are 11 of us in our group.
Any lunch suggestions? Or other great wine shops?
Would love for someone to suggest an itinerary.
Thank you for your time!
Written 7 May 2019
Parking is very tricky. I'd advise calling the hotel.
Written 15 May 2019
Bonjour est il possible de faire des photos du château de l'extérieur sans devoir payer une visite ou un parking merci
Written 31 October 2018
Chateau_Chinon
Chinon, France
Bonjour, vous pouvez prendre des photos de la tour de l'horloge depuis l'esplannade du bâtiment d'accueil. Vous pouvez également prendre des photos de l'ensemble du château depuis la plage de l'autre côté de la Vienne. Cordialement.
Written 28 February 2023
how much is the entrance to the castle for 65 years old? are there audio guides and what is the charge? How long do you need for the visit? What are the opening hours for Fridays and Saturdays in August? Thank you.
Written 21 January 2018
Chateau_Chinon
Chinon, France
Thank you for showing an interest on our fortresse.
The price for the entrance is 9€ (except if you show us your full price ticket of any other Partner "Ouest Tourain Pass" monument -see list on forteressechinon in English.
There are audio guides -iPad to rent for 3€- and guided tours in English (one hour long, outdoors) add, at least, one more hour to visit the rest of our medieval castle on your own. So, all in all, we advise you to allow yourself two to three hours and a half in our walls.
The monument is open everyday in August from 9.30 to 7pm.
Hopefully I aswered your questions to prepare your coming and you might want to visit our website for further requests :
on forteressechinon.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Marie,
Receptionist and guide
Written 24 January 2018
Hola. Vamos a visitar la fortaleza en verano y quería saber si hay algún párquing de coches vigilado. Vendremos con maletas y no nos hace mucha gracia dejar el coche lejos de la visita.
Gracias
Written 6 May 2017
Hola, por degracia no párquing vigilado. Saludos a Barcelona
Written 12 May 2017
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