Chinon Castle

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chinon Castle
Chinon Castle and the left bank of the Vienne

Chinon Castle and the left bank of the Vienne

Alternative name (s): Château de Chinon
Creation time : around 900 to 1000
Castle type : Höhenburg, location
Place: Quinone
Geographical location 47 ° 10 ′ 5 "  N , 0 ° 14 ′ 10"  E Coordinates: 47 ° 10 ′ 5 "  N , 0 ° 14 ′ 10"  E
Chinon Castle (Center-Val de Loire)
Chinon Castle

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

investment

In the castle on the middle rock were the royal apartments and the church. Fort Coudray was built on the outer rock and is separated from the rest of the complex by a dry moat . Fort Saint-George protected the castle from the other side, from the plateau that offered the best opportunities to attack the fortress. The fortress wall facing the city was partially rebuilt and is today (2011) completed. There, the new access to the fortress was created, which currently leads through the dry moat and one of the towers, as well as a glass elevator, which should also make it easier for people with reduced mobility to visit directly from the city side.

history

A Roman fortress already existed here in the 5th century. On the rock above Chinon, the Counts of Blois built a strong castle in the 10th century, nothing of which has survived. In 1044, after the battle of Saint-Martin-le-Beau , the complex fell to the Counts of Anjou and thus to the kings of England. They had the middle towers built. King Henry II died here in 1189 after having it completely renovated as a border fortress against the French king.

In 1205, during a Franco-English war, after a year-long siege , Chinon was captured by the French King Philippe II Auguste and expanded by him and his successors, so that it got its current appearance. During the Hundred Years War , quinone was lost to the English. King Charles VII had a large hall built during his residency. His lover Agnès Sorel lived in a small mansion near the castle. On March 9, 1429, Jeanne d'Arcs met the King here, who had gathered the Estates-General here. Here she convinced him that he must come to Orléans ' aid. The French royal court stayed in Chinon until 1459.

The royal lodgings

In 1562 the castle came into the possession of the Huguenots and became a prison under Henry IV . In 1633 the castle became the property of Cardinal Richelieu , whose heirs held it until the French Revolution . After that it fell into disrepair, as did some security measures of the 19th century by Napoleon III. couldn't save much. Between 2003 and 2010 the castle was the subject of a massive excavation and restoration, the restoration work cost € 14,500,000. It was hoped the restored castle would attract 250,000 tourists a year, with a visitor center in Fort St-George. Before the visitor center was built, the fort was the subject of an archaeological excavation that covered nearly 4,000 square feet. The royal accommodations (Logis Royales), which were without a roof for 200 years, have been 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.

The path leads to the central castle on the right edge of the complex through the 25-meter-high so-called clock tower ( Tour d'horloge ) with a clock and bell from 1399. Jeanne d'Arc already walked this path , to whom a small museum is dedicated in the tower . The tower is the only completely preserved part of the castle. From there you can enjoy a good view of the city and the Vienne valley . The historical meeting of Jeanne and Karl is recreated in the royal private rooms with wax figures. Up until the 18th century there was a small church in the inner courtyard of the central palace, where Heinrich II Plantagenet is said to have died. The dog tower opposite served as a dog kennel for the French kings. In 1308 the Knights Templar persecuted by King Philip the Fair and their Grand Master Jacques de Molay were imprisoned in the donjon of the Coudray Fortress . In March and April 1429, Jeanne d'Arc is said to have lived on the first floor .

Web links

Commons : Château de Chinon  - Collection of images, videos and audio files