This article accompanies the fable
The Woman in the Bower


Château de Chinon

The château has a long and distinguished history. It was built by Henry II of Anjou who died there after being defeated by his sons Richard and John in 1189.

Henry, Eleanor, their son Richard, their daughter Joan and other members of the extended Plantagenet family are buried at the nearby Abbey of Fontevraud (aka Fontevrault).

Chinon appears again in French history when the Knights Templars were imprisoned there in 1307 and in 1429 when Joan of Arc recognized the Dauphin there before leading French troops to liberate Orléans. Rabelais was born here too.