The Ramparts Walkway

This is one of the best ways to grasp the architectural scale of the Royal Fortress of Chinon, as you wander towards Chinon, historic town centre. Take a smartphone with you and head for the ramparts walkway.

The Coudray Tower

After a 9-month siege, Philippe August captured the Fortress of Chinon in 1205 and had a large circular tower built, called the Coudray Tower. In 1308, it became a prison for Templar dignitaries, including Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. You can still see several examples of graffiti that mark this historic event.