Parc de la Loire

Chinon is a historic town on the Vienne river, a tributary of the Loire, in the Touraine part of the Loire Valley. Its old quarter lies between the water and a long limestone ridge crowned by a great castle, and the quays along the river form the town's main promenade. The Parc de la Loire is a green space beside the water, and the name is slightly misleading, since the river here is the Vienne, a few kilometres before it joins the Loire. It is a place for a walk, a rest on a bench and a view of the town across the river.

What gives the riverbank its interest is the skyline. From the park you look across to the roofs of the old town and up to the Château de Chinon, a vast fortress with three separate sections along the ridge. The castle has a rich history. It was a favourite residence of the Plantagenet kings, and Henry II of England died here in 1189. In 1429 Joan of Arc came to Chinon to meet the future Charles VII, who recognised her in the great hall, and her mission to relieve Orléans began from here. Visits to the castle include the restored royal apartments and exhibitions about medieval life and war machines.

The old town, known as Vieux Chinon, is built of white tuffeau stone and slate, with half-timbered houses on narrow lanes. The Rue Voltaire, the main street, is lined with fine houses, and the town has a literary link in the person of François Rabelais, who grew up in the surrounding countryside and used it in his novels. The Collégiale Saint-Mexme, a church with a very old foundation, and the Musée de Chinon add to the sights, and the Musée de la Résistance recalls the Second World War. The bridge over the Vienne, close to the park, makes a good photograph point of the town.

Chinon is also a wine town. The surrounding vineyards produce red wine from Cabernet Franc, one of the best-known reds of the Loire, and many caves cut into the tuffeau offer tastings, including the Caves Painctes, which are linked to Rabelais.

The park suits walkers, families and visitors who want a break between sights. Allow half an hour to an hour. It is open freely and pairs well with a visit to the castle and a stroll through the old town.