Chinon: a royal fortress and 2,400 hectares of Cabernet Franc
The fortress where Henry II died in 1189 overlooks vineyards still producing Chinon AOC wine today.
One hilltop, three castles, and a wine appellation that surrounds the town
The Forteresse Royale sits on a rocky spur above the Vienne, its three linked compounds used by Henry II Plantagenet, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and later Joan of Arc, who met Charles VII here in 1429. The Clock Tower at its entrance now houses a museum dedicated to that meeting. Below the fortress, the Chinon AOC covers around 2,400 hectares across 26 communes, producing roughly 13 million bottles a year — almost all Cabernet Franc — from family domaines within a short ride of the town. Several wine cellars are cut directly into the tuffeau rock beneath the castle.
Things you can do here
Activities nearby
Canoe rentalArtannes-sur-Thouetabout 25 km, to the activity
Reaching the vineyards without the hills stopping you
The terrain between the Loire and the Vienne includes slopes that make a vineyard circuit genuinely hard going on a standard bike. ease-see's e-bikes flatten that barrier: you can ride out to multiple domaines, stop for tastings, and get back without the return climb deciding your afternoon.
Getting up to the fortress itself
The Forteresse Royale sits well above the town, and the walk up from the quayside is steep enough to put people off. Riding an ease-see e-bike means the hill is a route, not a reason to skip it.
Marion
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Visited in September 2026