Chateau de Chinon

Perched atop a hill and overlooking the valley of the Vienne river, Château de Chinon is one of France's most spectacular castles with fine architecture, rich history and stunning countryside views. Dating back to the 11th Century, it has been rebuilt and restored a number of times throughout the years with the most recent renovation carried out by the French government between 2003 and 2010. It has been conquered and ruled by kings France as well as England and was also the place where the famous young warrior, Joan of Arc arrived in 1429 to claim that she hear heavenly voices who told her to lead an army of French soldiers against England. It was inhabited until the 16th Century after which it became a prison and later fell into disuse. Today, it is a restored historic monument of the country and open to visitors with fun, guided tours for children and adults.