With its ruined castle looming from above on a steep ridge of a hill, the town of Chinon has a romantic ambience. The old town lies between the fortress and the Vienne River. The Forteresse Royale de Chinon dates back to the 10th century and is a masterpiece of medieval architecture.
Joan of Arc had an important meeting with the Dauphin Charles here in 1429. The Rue Voltaire, with its 15th- and 16th-century houses, and the 12th-century Church of Saint-Maurice are particularly worth seeing. The most important event in the history of Chinon was the meeting between Charles VII and Joan of Arc on March 9, 1429, which marked the beginning of the reconquest of French territory from the English.
A vision of a fairy-tale fantasy is found 12 kilometers from Chinon at the Château d'Ussé, the castle that provided inspiration to Charles Perrault, who wrote the "Sleeping Beauty" story in the 17th-century. Built in stages between the 15th and 17th centuries, the Château d'Ussé shows a mingling of Late Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
The rooms feature Florentine and Louis XV furniture, 16th- and 17th-century tapestries, and marble marquetry. Visitors are also impressed by the castle's unique spiral staircase and the grand staircase designed by Mansart, architect of the Château de Versailles.
The grounds rank among the Loire Valley's prettiest gardens, created by Le Nôtre (known as the "King's Gardener"), who landscaped Versailles. Tucked away in a peaceful spot of the property is the Collégiale Notre Dame d'Ussé, dedicated to Sainte-Anne d'Ussé. This 16th-century chapel exemplifies pure Renaissance style. The Château d'Ussé is owned by the Duke of Blacas and has been a private home in the family for more than two centuries
