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Chinon is located in the Vallée de la Vienne (Vienne River valley). It is situated on the banks of the Vienne River.
Sitting high on a plateau, a huge castle dominates the entire town. The château Chinon was built on the site of a Gallo-Roman castrum as a fortified stronghold by Theobald I , Count of Blois in the year 1154. In the 12th century Chinon, located in Anjou in present day France, was a primary residence of Henry II ( Angevin King and King of England). He is responsible for construction of almost all of the massive chateau, built over 1,300 feet long and 250 feet wide with a clock tower rising 115 feet high. King Henry, his wife Eleanor of AquitaineEleanor of Aquitaine (about 1122 April 1, 1204) was one of the most powerful people of the Middle Ages and the richest and most powerful woman in Europe during her lifetime. She was married first to the French King Louis VII and then to the English King H, and their son King Richard the Lionheartbronze, brandishes his sword outside the Palace of Westminster Richard I ( September 8, 1157 April 6, 1199) was King of England from 1189 to 1199. He was often referred to as Richard the Lionheart Coeur de Lion and Oc et No by the French, and Melek-Ric by were all buried at nearby Fontevraud AbbeyThe Fontevraud Abbey (or Fontevrault Abbey is located in the village of Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, near Chinon, in Anjou, France. It was constructed between 1110 and 1119 and founded by Robert d'Abrissel who had just created a new order. The abbey contains the.
The chateau was the residence of Charles VIIJean Fouquet, ca 1420, ( Louvre) Charles VII ( February 22, 1403 July 22, 1461) was king of France from 1422 to 1461, a member of the Valois Dynasty. Born in Paris, Charles was the eldest surviving son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau de Baviere. On th, the dauphinThe Dauphin was the heir apparent to the throne of France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties. Guy VIII, Count of Vienne, had a dolphin on his coat of arms and had been nicknamed le Dauphin ( French for dolphin . The title of Dauphin du Viennois descen of France in the early 15th century14th century 15th century 16th century other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. Events Renaissance affects philosophy, science and art. The New Monarchs come to power i. It is the place where the legendary Joan of ArcJoan of Arc ( January 6, 1412 May 30, 1431) (also Jeanne d'Arc Jehanne la Pucelle in French, and Maid of Orleans is a national heroine of France and saint of the Catholic Church. During the Hundred Years' War she led the French against the English and was came on March 8March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). There are 298 days remaining. Events 1618 Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made b, 1429 to recognize the dauphin and to urge him to declare himself king and raise an army to liberate France from the English.
In 1562 the chateau came into the possession of the Huguenots and was turned into a State prison by Henri IV of France. After that it was abandoned until 1793 when, during the Reign of Terror, the castle was temporarily occupied by Vendeans. Soon though, it was left to decay until Emperor Napoleon III began a partial effort at restoration. Today, it is managed by the Town of Chinon and is a major tourist attraction.