Chinon tourism and travel guide

Visit Chinon: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: As well as the castle, Chinon has a very impressive medieval centre to explore and lovely river views

Chinon is situated in the Indre-et-Loire department and Centre-Loire Valley region.

Attractions in Chinon

Château de Chinon retains more medieval elements than most Loire Valley castles: Chateau de Chinon

Tourist classifications for Chinon include "secteur sauvegarde" and "town of art and history".

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Chinon in Centre-Loire Valley.

Popular places to visit nearby include Chateau d'Ussé at 9 km and Chateau du Rivau at 10 km.

Chinon, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Chateau de Chinon

Castle at 1 km (direction west-south-west)

Château de Chinon retains more medieval elements than most Loire Valley castles...

See Chateau de Chinon guide

Chateau d'Ussé

Castle at 9 km (direction north-north-east)

The imposing Chateau d'Usse, next to the Loire, is an imposing medieval-renaissance...

See Chateau d'Ussé guide

Chateau du Rivau

Castle at 10 km (direction south-east)

One of the more modest castles in the region, both the Chateau...

See Chateau du Rivau guide

Tavant

at 12 km (direction east-south-east)

Tavant is a small village but a visit to se the murals...

See Tavant guide

Candes-Saint-Martin

Most Beautiful Village at 14 km (direction west-north-west)

In the village of Candes-Saint-Martin, a 'most beautiful village in France', you...

See Candes-Saint-Martin guide

Candes-Saint-Martin collegiate church

Church at 14 km (direction west-north-west)

The collegiate church of Candes-Saint-Martin has numerous medieval statues incorporated in the...

See Candes-Saint-Martin collegiate church guide

Fontevraud Abbey

Abbey at 15 km (direction west), in the Maine-et-Loire department

The Fontevraud Abbey has a great deal to see: it is one...

See Fontevraud Abbey guide

Montsoreau

Most Beautiful Village at 15 km (direction west-north-west), in the Maine-et-Loire department

Montsoreau, listed as a 'most beautiful villages in France', also has an...

See Montsoreau guide

Crissay-sur-Manse

Most Beautiful Village at 18 km (direction east)

Explore the lovely stone houses and narrow streets in the tiny village...

See Crissay-sur-Manse guide

Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau

Castle at 19 km (direction east-north-east)

Not the most luxurious or largest castle in the region, it is...

See Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau guide

Azay-le-Rideau

at 19 km (direction east-north-east)

The village of Azay-le-Rideau is best known for its castle but also...

See Azay-le-Rideau guide

Chateau de Langeais

Castle at 21 km (direction north-east)

Château de Langeais is a medieval-renaissance castle with nicely furnished rooms and...

See Chateau de Langeais guide

Langeais

at 21 km (direction north-east)

Langeais is a small town with a pretty town centre, best known...

See Langeais guide

Chateau de Saumur

Castle at 26 km (direction west-north-west), in the Maine-et-Loire department

The Chateau de Saumur stands in an impressive location with views across...

See Chateau de Saumur guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Indre-et-Loire

Arrange a visit to Chinon

Map of places to visit near Chinon

Markets in and near Chinon

Market days in Chinon: weekly market: Thursday all day & Sunday;

• Chinon: market Thursday all day & Sunday (0km)
• Avoine: market Friday (6km)
• Bourgueil: market Tuesday & Saturday (13km)
• Montsoreau: market Sunday (15km)
• Richelieu: market Monday & Friday (19km)
• Azay-le-Rideau: market Wednesday & Saturday (19km)
• Langeais: market Sunday (21km)
• Loudun: market Tuesday (22km)
• Saumur: market Wednesday & Thursday & Saturday & Friday (27km)
• Artannes-sur-Indre: market Friday (28km)

More information about Chinon, Loire Valley

Tourist attractions near Chinon, France

What to do at Chinon? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Chinon.

Aquarium

• Aquarium de Loudun (22km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Candes-Saint-Martin (14km)
• Montsoreau (15km)
• Crissay-sur-Manse (18km)

National Monuments

• Fontevraud Abbey (15km)
• Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau (19km)
• Oiron Chateau (35km)
• Cloisters of la Psalette (41km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Loudun (22km)
• Montreuil-Bellay (31km)

Regional Natural Parcs

• Loire-Anjou-Touraine (16km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Collegiale Church (Candes-Saint-Martin) (14km)
• Abbaye Notre Dame de Fontevraud (Fontevraud Abbey) (15km)
• Eglise Abbatial de Saint Jouin (Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes) (40km)
• Eglise de Notre Dame (Chenehutte-Treves-Cunault) (41km)
• Prieuré de Notre-Dame de Cunault (Chenehutte-Treves-Cunault) (41km)
• Eglise de Saint Généroux (Saint-Generoux) (44km)
• Eglise abbatiale de Saint Pierre (Airvault) (49km)

Remarkable gardens

• Les jardins du château du Rivau (12km)
• Les jardins de la Chatonnière (19km)
• Les jardins du château de Villandry (27km)
• Parc de Lathan (34km)
• Les jardins du prieuré de Saint-Cosme (39km)
• Le jardin des Prébendes d'Oé (41km)

Protected historical centre (fr: secteur sauvegardé)

(see also historical French towns)

• Richelieu (19km)
• Saumur (27km)

Towns of Art and history

• Tours (41km)
• Thouars (41km)

Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie)

• Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire (40km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Parc zoologique de Doué-la-Fontaine (42km)

Geography and distances

Chinon is in the eastern-center of France at 41 kilometres from Tours, the department capital (general information: Chinon is 244 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors arrive in one of the cross-channel ports such as Caen and Le Havre (about 3-4 hours drive from here) or fly into Paris and drive south from there. For driving distances to Chinon from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 6 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Anche, Avoine, Beaumont-en-Veron, Cinais, La Roche-Clermault and Riviere.

This page in French: Visiter Chinon