Château de Chinon

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The Chinon castle and the left bank of the Vienne

The castle of Chinon, French Château de Chinon, one - although it is a castle - the castles of the Loire. It is located in the town of Chinon in the French department of Indre -et- Loire ( Centre region ). The hill fort is situated on a three-piece rock above the Vienne, a tributary of the Loire.

Plant

In the castle on the middle rocks were the royal apartments and the church. The fort was built Coudray on the outer rocks and is separated from the rest of the plant by a dry moat. The Fort Saint- George protected the castle from the other side, from the plateau ago that offered the best opportunities for attack on the fortress. The side facing the city fortress wall was partially rebuilt and is today (2011) completed. Here the new access to the fortress has been created which is conducting the dry moat and one of the towers, and a glass elevator, which is easier for people with disabilities to visit directly from the city side.

History

A Roman fort existed here in the 5th century. On the rocks above a fixed Chinon castle was built by the Count of Blois in the 10th century, from the preserved nothing. 1044 was the plant after the battle of Saint -Martin- le- Beau to the counts of Anjou, and thus to the kings of England. You could build the middle towers. King Henry II died here in 1189, after he had completely to the border fortress against the French king to renew.

1205 Chinon was taken Auguste II after one year siege by the French king Philippe and developed by him and his successors, so that it took its present form. During the Hundred Years' War quinone was lost for the English. King Charles VII was during his residence time to build a large hall. His mistress Agnès Sorel lived in a small mansion house near the castle. On March 9, 1429 meeting of Joan of Arc with the king took place here, who had assembled the Estates-General here. Here they convinced him that he must come to the aid of Orléans. Until 1459 the French royal court remained in Chinon.

1562 the castle came into the possession of the Huguenots under Henry IV and was a prison. In 1633 the castle was in the possession of Cardinal Richelieu, whose heirs kept it until the French Revolution. After she fell, and also some safety measures of the 19th century by Napoleon III. could not save much. Between 2003 and 2010 the castle was the subject of a massive excavation and restoration, restoration work costing € 14.5 million. It was hoped that the restored castle would attract 250,000 tourists per year, with a visitor center at the Fort St. George. Before the visitor center was built, the fort was the subject of an archaeological dig, which covers nearly 4,000 square meters. The royal accommodations (lodging Royales ), who were without a roof for 200 years, were restored inside and out and covered with a dummy from the 15th century. 150 m of the ramparts, and the Tour du Coudray have also been restored.

To the center lock of the way on the right side of the plant through the 25 -meter-high, single so-called Clock Tower (Tour d' horloge ) with clock and bell from 1399. Already walked this path Jeanne d' Arc, which is dedicated to the tower is a small museum. The tower is the only remaining complete part of the castle. From there you can get a good view over the town and the valley of the Vienne enjoy. In the royal private rooms is adjusted with wax figures, the historic meeting of Jeanne and Karl. In the courtyard of the Middle Castle stood until the 18th century a small church, said to have died in the Henry II Plantagenet. The dogs tower over served as a kennel for the French kings. In the Donjon of Coudray- fortress in 1308 by King Philip the Fair persecuted Templars and their Grand Master Jacques de Molay were imprisoned. On the first floor is in March and April 1429 Joan of Arc lived.