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Chinon-Visit of the chateau

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History of Jews-Joan of Arc

Visit of the chateau

 City and museums

There are different ways to get to the chateau. Either by car or by foot from centre-town, taking the stairs north of the place du General-de -Gaulle, next to Hotel e France and, one uphill, turn left.
You enter the CHATEAU DE CHINON through the 14th century “Tour de l’Horloge” at the eastern side. The tower has a clock, the "Marie Javelle" (a big bell that sounds the hours without any sign of fatigue, since 1399!!) and a museum about the life of Joan of Arc.
In a hall of the “Logis Royaux”, 100 meters further on the left, there is a wax figure ensemble. All except one are dresses very fancy. The expression of their faces goes from disdain to surprise, contempt to insensibility. The only one dressed like a pauper is Jeanne d’Arc. It is said that this must have been the general atmosphere of the famous first meeting in 1429 from Jeanne d’Arc and the dauphin Charles VII. But other historians say that there were more than 300 persons present with Charles VII hiding to test Jeanne. But she spotted him right away and brought him the divine message I already described in my previous article. The fact that the Dauphin was recognised so easily is the subject of a nice 17th century Aubusson tapestry also to see in the Logis Royaux. With a few paintings, maquettes, Flemish and other Aubusson tapestries (16-17th century). Continue to the tour de Boissy (nice vaulted gallery on the first floor) and the courtyard of the fort de Bellay, from where you have a magnificent view on the city and region. And if you care to enter the Coudray dungeon, you will still be able to see the inscriptions and graffiti signed by the prisoners like the Knight Templars, imprisoned by Philippe le Bel in 1307. The group was finally deported to Paris where they were tortured, sentenced (?) and executed (burnt). An excellent book about this period is the famous series “Les Rois Maudits” by Maurice Druon. If you can get an English version I recommend you to read it. It is thrilling like a suspense movie.  Coming back from the tour de l'Horloge, you cross the gardens of the chateau du "Milieu" . Notice the tour des "Chiens" on your left: it used to be the kennel of the royal dogs. The chateau is open from 9-19 in July and August (18 h mid-March to end June and the month of September; 17 h in October). Open 9-12 and 14-17 from end November to mid-March. Closed Dec 25 and January 1. Tel 0247931345

Bibliography

Guide du Patrimoine, Centre, Val de Loire , by Perouse de Montclos (ed.Hachette 1992)—Het dal van de Loire, by A.Sperber (Brussels, ed.Harenberg 1997)—Guide du Routard 1998 (ed.Hachette)—de kastelen van Frankrijk, by L.P.Boon (1956)-Histoire de la Touraine, by Pierre Leveel (ed.LCD 1988), Histoire de l’Anjou, by  J.L. Ormieres (ed.Que sais-je, P.U.F.1998), Les Rois Maudits, by Maurice Druon (ed.Grasset)