WHAT TO SEE & DO
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinon Fortress | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Fortress + Panoramas | Self | Paid € |
| 2 | Town Center | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Town Center | Self | Free |
| 3 | Food market | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Food market | Self | Free |
| 4 | Viewpoint | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Panorama | Self | Free |
| 5 | St. Etienne Church | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Church | Self | Free |
| 6 | St. Mexme Church | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Church | Self | Free |
| 7 | St. Radegonde Chapel | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Chapel + Panorama | Self | Free |
| 8 | Carroi Museum | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Museum - Art & History | Self | Paid € |
| 9 | CHIMOMU | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Museum - Motorbike | Self | Paid € |
| 10 | Mattrais Park | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Park | Self | Free |
1. Chinon Fortress
Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Type Fortress + Panoramas
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Names
Forteresse Royale de Chinon
Château de Chinon
The Chinon Fortress is a medieval stronghold, a complex boasting impressive walls and towers, reflecting its strategic importance during the Middle Ages. Visitors can explore the towers, ramparts, and royal lodgings.
The clock tower offers a panoramic view of the town and the Vienne River.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
2. Town Center
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Town Center
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
Chinon’s town center is a charming blend of narrow cobblestone streets, ancient stone houses, local shops, and restaurants.
3. Food Market
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Outdoor Food Market
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Marché du Jeudi
Chinon’s food market takes place between the small squares of Place Mirabeau and Place Jeanne d’Arc on Thursday mornings. In summer, it continues on Thursday afternoons as well.
4. Viewpoint
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Panorama
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
This viewpoint, located on the other side of the Vienne River, offers a panorama of the Chinon fortress, the bridge, and the river.
5. St. Etienne Church
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Église Saint-Etienne
An initial church dating from the 11th century was rebuilt in the 15th century in a Gothic style, resulting in the current structure.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
6. St. Mexme Church
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Collégiale Saint-Mexme
The main church until the French Revolution, this Romanesque-style church dates back to the 10th century.
It also occasionally hosts exhibitions.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
7. St. Radegonde Chapel
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Chapel + Panorama
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde
An ancient pagan worship site carved into the rock, the troglodyte chapel was developed in the Middle Ages.
Situated at a height, it offers a panorama of the rooftops of the town below.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
8. Carroi Museum
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Local Art & History Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Names
Le Carroi
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Chinon
The Carroi Museum showcases Chinon’s history through an extensive collection of artifacts, artworks, and archaeological finds. Housed in a historic building, the museum covers various periods from prehistoric times to the Renaissance.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
9. CHIMOMU
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Motorbike Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Names
CHIMOMU
Chinon Moto Museum
CHIMOMU, short for CHInon MOto MUseum, is a collection of motorbikes primarily from the 1960s to the 1990s, with a special focus on Japanese models.
10. Mattrais Park
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Park
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Promenade des Docteurs Mattrais
A riverside park stretching along the Vienne River.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN LOIRE VALLEY
Things to Do in Azay-le-Rideau Village
Things to Do in Candes-Saint-Martin Village
Things to Do in Chenonceaux Village
Things to Do in Cheverny Village
Things to Do in Fontevraud-l’Abbaye Village
Things to Do in Montrésor Village
Things to Do in Montreuil-Bellay Town
Things to Do in Montsoreau Village
