Reduced by almost 50K! Substantial 5 bed village property
EUR 203,300
More info...
Family Home with 2 up and running gites. Potential for expansion.
EUR 399,500
More info...
|
|
|
|
|
Chinon – a town of three castles
Chinon is a wine town that lies in the heart of France in the Indre et Loire department of the Centre Val de Loire region. Set to the west of the department, Chinon lies close to the major town of Tours, and on the banks of the River Vienne. There were no fewer than three important castles built in the town, and it is in one of these that Joan of Arc is said to have seen through the customary disguise of the King of France and presented herself to him. Unfortunately, the castles are now in ruins, but they still present an imposing picture on approach to Chinon. Chinon is a large and busy town, but the landscapes around it remain laid down to tranquil vineyards, rivers and parkland dotted with the great chateaux of the region.
|
Castles and kings
Chinon is full of history, and you shouldn't let the fact that its castles lie in ruins deter you from exploring and discovering more about the past of this fascinating town. Here, not only did Joan of Arc speak to the disguised King, but Knights Templar were kept prisoner, King Henry II of England died, and Richard the Lionheart once walked. The castles are now classified as historic monuments. There are two museums in Chinon worth a visit, Musée des Amis du Vieux Chinon where you can learn about the history of the area, and the Maison de la Rivière, which charts the fortunes of the shipping industry.
|
Wine caves extraordinaire
The wine caves that are carved into the banks of the Vienne River nurture some of the most highly regarded wines in France. The region produces excellent red wines known as Cabernet Franc, and wine buffs from all over the world will be found visiting and tasting in Chinon.
|
Bustling modern centre
Despite all this history and traditional culture, Chinon has a busy modern centre, and there are superb facilities for the distinctly present day pleasures of shopping and dining out. Chinon is large and economically thriving, so expect to find all the amenities that you could hope for in any similar sized European town.
|
Out and about
The central location of Chinon renders it a very good base for further exploration of France, and it offers great access to the famous wine estates and chateaux for which the region is famed. From here you can enjoy the great city of Tours, with all its shops, culture and entertainment, and also you will find the pretty agricultural region of Poitou-Charentes on the doorstep. Sporting opportunities in and near Chinon include fishing, canoeing, horse-riding, golf and tennis.
|
How to get there
The town of Tours provides the nearest airport to Chinon, and you can fly directly there from the UK with budget airline Ryanair. Poitiers and Angers are also within reach. Poitiers is served by Ryanair and Angers by Eastern Airways. If you want more of a choice of airline, then Paris offers another possibility, with many different airlines and departure points in the UK. Tours has TGV station which makes train travel a handy alternative, and there is a railway station in Chinon itself so you could continue by train all the way. If driving, the auto route A85 runs close to Chinon.
|
Property prices and availability in and around Chinon
The property market is still strong in this area, despite a general slowdown in the UK. The location of Chinon means that it should remain both popular and accessible, and property here looks set to remain a good investment. Just recently a top French developer has created some excellent buy-to-let or holiday home easy-care apartments in Chinon, and these are certainly worth considering as they are selling for very reasonable prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
HOTELS IN CHINON
* online booking & great prices
* up-to-the-minute availability
* unbiased hotel reviews
* full confirmation with directions |
|
 |
|
|
|
AGENTS WITH PROPERTY IN THIS AREA |
|
|
|
4/5