Chinon is a French commune located in the department of Indre-et-Loire and the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Indre-et-Loire is one of the original 83 départements created during the French Revolution. It was created from the former province of Touraine.
Access
To go to Chinon by car, take the A10 towards Nantes Exit 25 direction Noyant de Touraine, Torgues and St Gilles. Chinon is also accessible by train with direct High Speed trains from Paris to Tours, which is only 55 minutes away from Chinon. Finally, there are regular low cost flights from London Stansted Airport to Tours.
Activities and History
Called “the flower garden of France”, Chinon is located in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Centre region. Nestled near the natural park of Loire-Anjou-Touraine, Chinon has been included in the French royal estates since 1205 with kings such as Richard Coeur de Lion, Henri II or Charles VII who ordered the building of the castle’s fortifications. Lots of old monuments can be visited in the town: the Jeanne d’Arc museum, various towers or the Sainte-Radegonde Chapel. Cobbled and lined with houses, the centre of the old town offers all amenities such as restaurants and shops. In term of activities, visitors can appreciate riding along the Vienne Valley or throughout the beautiful countryside. The surrounding area of Chinon is a haven for cyclists, walkers, lovers of water sports, horse riders and those who just want peace and quiet. For motor racing and motorbike racing fans the Grand Prix circuit at Magny-Cours is only 70 kilometres away.
Gastronomy
Chinon and the Touraine area are part of the gastronomic inheritance of France. Chinon is surrounded by some of the best vineyards that are most of the time open to public visitors. Chinon is well-known for its Cabernet Franc-based red wines. The neighbouring towns such as Bourgueil, Vouvray, Saumur are also known for their wines. Excellent fish should not be forgotten. The Loire River and its watercourses offer a large variety of fish such as salmon, pike, carp and perch. Mushrooms are also cultivated in the area and the most desired is certainly the truffle.
Few restaurants
- Au Chaperon Rouge – 49 Place du General de Gaulle – 37500 Chinon – 02 47 98 08 08 – 27€ to 50€
- L’Oceanic – 13, Rue Rabelais – 37500 Chinon -02 47 93 44 55 – 30€
- L’Ardoise – Rue Rabelais – 37500 Chinon – 02 47 58 48 78 – 15€ to 30€
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you find a property in Indre et Loire. We have a large network of agents there. All of them are registered French estate agents and speak fluently English. Whatever the kind of property you are looking for, we will do our best to find a property matching your requirements. Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about our selection of properties for sale in Chinon.