Today we visited the town of Chinon on the River Vienne. Chinon was the favourite dwelling place of Henri II Plantagenet and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Joan of Arc arrived in Chinon in 1429 claiming to hear heavenly voices telling her that Charles VII, the French dauphin, would give her an army to neutralize the siege of Orleans.
The Forteress Royale de Chinon was founded by Theobald, the Count of Blois. In the 11th C it became the property of the Counts of Anjou. In 1156 Henry II of England took it from his younger brother Geofferey Platagenet and died there in 1189. In the 13th C the property was taken back by the French.
The Knights Templar were imprisoned in the chateau after being accused of heresy, and it was used as a jail for many more years.
The town of Chinon is also famous for its cellars and surrounding vineyards.
We had another wine tasting in the 10th C caves at Caves M Plouzeau with a nice meat/cheese platter for lunch.
After lunch, we wandered the meandering streets of Chinon where we found more timbered houses on Rue de Grand Carroi.
And with that we head back to relax and enjoy some of the wine we’ve purchased.
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