Rental APARTMENT Chinon : 

Dominated by its castle, the old town of Chinon is located on the banks of the Vienne river, in the department of Indre-et-Loire. Elegant, historical, cultural and pastoral, this city, recognized as a City of Art and History, has prospered in the heart of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park since Gallo-Roman times. A land of strolls but also of gastronomy, Chinon is adored for the landscapes it offers to see, as well as for the delicious dishes and wines it offers to taste.

In the land of Rabelais, on the right bank of the Vienne river, Chinon and its fortress surrounded by vineyards and forests is an ideal destination for a cultural, gourmet and exotic stay. François Rabelais, a beloved child of the country, said of Chinon himself: "small town, great fame." And Chinon owes much of this notoriety to its unique architecture: surrounded by its dungeons, towers and crenels, this charming city with its narrow alleys shines with its elegant built heritage. Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionheart, the Plantagenets, the Knights Templar and Charles VII have all walked the cobblestones of the medieval streets of the royal fortress of Chinon, which has recently been beautifully restored. From the bridge over the Vienne, the view of the building is breathtaking and many amateur photographers flock to capture this masterpiece, especially at sunset. Occupying its rocky spur for more than 3,000 years, Chinon Castle is now a place open to visitors, and offers exhibitions and activities throughout the year to allow visitors a complete immersion in the history of Chinon and its fortress. To visit Chinon, forget your car and walk through its magnificent medieval streets, as if they were a proof of time, made of turret houses, half-timbered facades and mullioned windows. The famous 14th century Red House, but also the House of the Engulfing Dragons (15th century), the Commandery of the Hospital at 61 rue Voltaire, the Hôtel des Monnaies and the Hôtel des Gouverneurs are some of the highlights of your visit. The rue du Grenier à Sel, the rue du Grand-Carroi, the crossroads of the Puits des Bancs and the impasse des Caves Peintes are worth a visit, as is the rue de la Lamproie which, behind its number 2, hides a splendid 16th century house which would have been Rabelais' residence. Along the streets, many old houses dating from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries will follow one another before your amazed eyes, giving Chinon a very marked medieval atmosphere. The Hôtel particulier de Beauvais, the Hôtel de Place Saint-Maurice and the Musée du Vieux Chinon also deserve to be seen, as do the Saint-Etienne church, the Saint-Maurice church, the magnificent Collegiate Church Saint-Mexme and the semi-troglodyte chapel Sainte-Radegonde, located on a hill just east of the fortified castle of Chinon. We recommend that you follow the GR3 route linking these two buildings on foot or by bike, to enjoy the incomparable landscapes on the slate roofs and the lands of the Vienne.

But Chinon, in addition to being rich in a very large built heritage, has splendid shores on which are located many vineyards producing three famous grape varieties, namely Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin. Spreading over more than 2300 hectares on either side of the Vienne river, these vineyards are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To discover all the intense flavours of Chinon wines, we recommend that you visit the heart of the Royal Fortress of Chinon during the summer, where meetings and tastings are organised every Thursday around this famous AOC. And if you want to combine delicacies with physical effort, you should know that many hikes and excursions take place in the heart of the vineyards! And for those who don't like wine, why not let yourself be tempted by kayaking or canoeing expeditions on the Vienne river?