Royal fortress of Chinon

The visit starts with the royal quarters and continues throughout the site. All along these visit trails, films and interactive or audio terminals are there to help you discover the site and its history. These terminals present the history of the fortress and portray the great figures who have left their mark here. WHAT YOU CAN VISIT ◊

1. the royal quarters 2. the three castles historical show The Middle castle ◊ ROOM 1 - Anger and light...... 6 ◊ The royal quarters...... 32 ◊ ROOM 2 - Dawn of revolt...... 10 ◊ The Argenton Tower...... 34 ◊ ROOM 3 - Battle of kings...... 14 ◊ The Dogs Tower...... 36 ◊ ROOM 4 - The destiny...... 18 ◊ The Clocktower...... 38 multimEdia - collections Fort Coudray ◊ ROOMS 5 & 6 - Joan of Arc Rooms...... 22 ◊ The Boissy Tower...... 40 ◊ ROOMS 7 & 8 - History and ◊ The Mill Tower...... 42 Archaeology Rooms...... 26 ◊ The Coudray Tower...... 44 Fort Saint George ◊ Fort Saint George...... 46 1. the royal quarters

The visit of the royal quarters takes in: In the 15th century, the royal quarters were ◊ 4 historical show rooms arranged in three buildings set around a ◊ 2 rooms devoted to Joan of Arc courtyard. The only surviving part of these collections buildings is the south wing, which today ◊ 1 multimedia room houses our royal quarters’ visit trail. This ◊ 1 History and Archaeology room wing housed the apartments of Charles VII and Mary of Anjou, accommodated on the first floor. The queen, the main occupant of these quarters between 1435 and 1461, commissioned many alterations. the royal quarters ◊ historical show ◊ room 1 10-11th centuries Chinon, residence “Anger of the Counts and light” of Anjou

In Chinon, Fulk IV wrote Shortly before the millennium, France the history of the counts of Anjou. was divided into a patchwork of fiefdoms. This film evokes a day of the life At that time, the fortress of Chinon was of Fulk IV, Count of Anjou. held by the Counts of Blois, vassals of He reigned for forty years, from 1068. the King of France. Their neighbours, the He fortified the Castle of Chinon Counts of Anjou, wanted to extend their and commissioned the writing of the domain and seized Touraine in 1044. Chronicles of the Counts of Anjou, the Chinon then became one of their first narrative history of this dynasty. principal residences.

6 7 historic milestones the royal quarters

◊ 1044 ◊ 1087-1105 Count Geoffrey Martel of Anjou seizes Fulk IV gradually restores his authority over Touraine and the fortress of Chinon, his vassals. He levies a special tax in order ousting the Counts of Blois. to build a new fortified enclosure at the fortress. ◊ 1068 His nephew, Fulk IV known as Le Réchin ◊ 1109 (the Quarreller), succeeds him. Fulk At the death of Fulk IV, Anjou had more usurps the title of Count of Anjou that or less attained its definitive borders. should have fallen to his brother and who His grandson, Geoffrey V of Anjou, he holds prisoner in the fortress for almost called the Handsome (le Bel) adopts the thirty years. nickname Plantagenet that is to remain with the dynasty thereafter. Geoffrey’s son, ◊ 1096 Henri II Plantagenet, will later become Pope Urban II, visiting Tours to preach king of England. on behalf of the Crusade, makes a visit to Chinon in person, to obtain his release.

8 9 the royal quarters ◊ historical show ◊ room 2 12th century Chinon, heart of the “Dawn of Plantagenet revolt” Empire

The rivalries between Henri II and his Around 1140, Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, sons disrupt the Plantagenet Empire. took the nickname Plantagenet (after This film evokes moments of the reign of the yellow sprig of broom he wore in his Henri II Plantagenet at Chinon. In 1172, the hat [French: genêt]). His son Henry II, castle is the scene of the conflict between the crowned king of England in 1154, reigned sovereign and his sons, who are supported over a vast empire stretching from England by their mother Eleanor of Aquitaine. These to Aquitaine, taking in Normandy and betrayals afflict Henri II up until his death at Anjou. He made Chinon the centre of his Chinon, on July 6, 1189. continental possessions.

10 11 historic milestones the royal quarters

◊ 1152 ◊ 1173 Henry Plantagenet marries Eleanor, just Henry II has his wife Eleanor imprisoned divorced from the King of France. She at Chinon. Accused of supporting her sons’ brings him Aquitaine in her dowry. In plots against him, she is subsequently kept thirteen years, they have eight children five under house arrest in England for nearly of whom are boys. fifteen years.

◊ 1154 ◊ 1189 Henry inherits a claim to the crown At the time of his death at Chinon, Henry of England from his mother and takes leaves his sons a very organized state, but the name of Henry II. At Chinon, he their rivalry makes this empire fragile. commissions much building work including Fort Saint George, a palatial structure where he installs his administration and his government.

◊ 1170 The king divides his time between England and his continental states. Touraine, with the Castle of Chinon, becomes a base for military operations for the king.

12 13 the royal quarters ◊ historical show ◊ room 3 early 13th century

Chinon becomes part “Battle of the kingdom of kings” of France

Philippe Auguste and Richard The In 1191, Richard The Lionheart reigns Lionheart clash. This film evokes the over the Plantagenet Empire. He allies confrontation between the Plantagenets, with Philippe Auguste, King of France, kings of England and the Capetians, in the Crusade. On the way back from the kings of France, at the turn of the 12th Crusade, Richard is taken prisoner. Philippe and 13th centuries. Despite their unity in Auguste takes advantage of the situation the Crusade, a territorial struggle ensues to attack Normandy, Maine, Poitou and between the two sovereigns. The capture Anjou. Entering into an alliance with the of the fortress of Chinon, in 1205, is a King of France, John Lackland betrays his turning point in this conflict. imprisoned brother.

14 15 historic milestones the royal quarters

◊ 1191 ◊ 1199 Richard The Lionheart, King of England, Richard is wounded in the siege of Châlus, and Philippe Auguste, King of France, go in Limousin. He dies without an heir, to the Crusade and win several victories leaving the much coveted Plantagenet together in the Holy Land. Philippe crown to his brother John Lackland. Auguste is the first to return to the West. ◊ 1200-1202 ◊ 1192-1194 For two years, King John improves the On his return from the crusade, Richard, fortifications of the Castle of Chinon. In now nicknamed Lionheart, is taken prisoner August 1200, he chooses Chinon to celebrate by the emperor of Germany. He is freed in his marriage to Isabella of Angouleme, cousin return for a considerable ransom. of the King of France, who he has snatched away from her suitor Hugh de Lusignan. He must now restore his power, exercised Seizing this pretext, Philippe Auguste goes in his absence by his younger brother John back to war against John. of England (John Lackland), who has allied himself with the King of France. ◊ 1205 The fortress falls on June 23, while John is He undertakes to re-conquer his territories, in England. Defeated in 1214, he returns starting with Normandy, controlled by to Chinon to sign a truce with Philippe Philippe Auguste. Auguste.

16 17 the royal quarters ◊ historical show ◊ room 4 15th century

Chinon, the historic “The Destiny” encounter

The encounter of Joan of Arc and Charles Since the beginnings of the Hundred at Chinon. This film evokes the beginnings Years’ war in 1328, the kingdom of France of the epic story of Joan of Arc: the journey has been in a state of upheaval. In 1419, from Vaucouleurs in Lorraine to Chinon, the king of France Charles VI, disinherits the encounter with the future Charles VII, his son, the Dauphin Charles, favouring then the finding of her sword at the church the King of England. The future Charles of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois. This VII withdraws to Bourges and to his episode announces the re-conquest of the domains in the Loire. He makes Chinon kingdom of France from the English. one of his residences.

18 19 historic milestones the royal quarters

◊ 1420 There were actually two meetings at Chinon. The future Charles VII disputes the validity of the treaty of Troyes, The first one was on February 25, 1429, disinheriting him, and has himself two days after the arrival of Joan. She was proclaimed King of France. His kingdom, taken to the apartments of the king who limited to territories to the south of the received her with a small committee. She Loire, has Bourges for its capital. was lodged in the Coudray keep.

◊ 1422-1427 Charles VII then sent her to Poitiers so that Charles celebrates his marriage with Mary theologians could judge her good faith. of Anjou in Bourges. At that time, Chinon is his summer residence and he installs the On her return, Joan was again received court there in 1427. by the king. This second audience “of the Sign”, took on the more official status often ◊ 1429 attributed to the first interview. In March, Joan of Arc comes to Chinon to meet Charles VII. This famous episode of the epic story is generally depicted as a mythical and miraculous scene: The Recognition.

20 21 the royal quarters ◊ multimedia - collections ◊ rooms 5 & 6

Joan of Arc A POPULAR rooms ICON

Only one portrait of Joan was actually The plumed heroin of the monarchy made during her life time. This bears In the 17th century, at the initiative of no resemblance to the multitude of Cardinal Richelieu, the «famous» who gave representations produced after her death. their lives for the king were used to extol The works presented in these rooms form loyalty to the kingdom. Joan of Arc was a collection devoted to the representations transformed into an allegorical figure. In of Joan of Arc from the 16th to the that era, she was represented as an Amazon 20th century. sporting a plume, a symbol of victory.

22 23 mutimedia - collections the royal quarters

The “statue-mania” of the 19th century Joan of Arc in pictures In the 19th century, sculptors seized upon Joan of Arc has occupied a prominent place Joan of Arc and a very great number of in popular iconography. The best known statues were devoted to her. At the end are the images from Epinal seen as of of the century, nationalism in France 1887. These are often the work of famous was reinforced by the defeat at the illustrators such as Job. hands of Prussia in 1870. The abundant representations of Joan of Arc illustrate The success of these images was further this patriotic current. enhanced in 1909, which was marked by her beatification. Joan of Arc as a symbol in WW1 During the First World War, the image In 1956, the fifth centenary of her of Joan of Arc was used to support the rehabilitation again created a renewed war effort. Postcards bearing her image interest. Many posters were produced for were widely disseminated and often used her glorification between 1950 and 1960. in correspondence between the French soldiers and their families. By 1917, her image was famous well beyond the borders of France and posters were printed with her iconic image in Britain and in the United States.

24 25 the royal quarters ◊ multimedia - collections ◊ rooms 7 & 8

Chinon, History and from Gallic Archaeology times to the rooms present day

These two rooms will help you to get The exhibits come from recent a more in-depth understanding of the archaeological excavations. They fortress, through the multimedia content as correspond to different periods and are well as the archaeological and iconographic grouped by theme: the tomb of a Gallic collections. The rooms can be visited warrior, aspects of daily life in the Middle independently from the royal quarters. Ages, etc. An interactive display provides 3D reconstructions of the fortress at different eras.

26 27 the fortress key actors in its history

A fortress reborn 2010 Beginning of the restructuring works 2003 First restoration 1857 Prosper Mérimée intervenes to save 1854 the fortress from destruction Listed as historic monument 1840 Last fortification works during the wars of religion 1560 Joan of Arc comes to Chinon 1429 to meet Charles VII Louis I of Anjou undertakes substantial works 1350

Philippe Auguste extends Philippe Auguste takes the fortress the fortification 1205 1205

Henri II dies at Chinon Henri II Plantagenet undertakes 1189 the construction of Fort Saint George 1160 Henri II Plantagenet, Count 1154 of Anjou, becomes King of England The fortified enclosure is completed by Fulk IV 1105 Geoffrey Martel, Count of Anjou, takes 1044 the fortress from the Count of Blois The first stone tower is erected 954

th Construction of the wall of the castrum 5 c

Birth of a Gallo-Roman st settlement 1 c A Gallic warrior is buried at the site Gallic aristocratic residence on the site st 0 of Fort Saint George of Fort Saint George -1 c 2. the three Castles

The Middle castle The royal fortress of Chinon is built on ◊ The royal quarters a rocky outcrop overlooking the river ◊ The Argenton Tower Vienne and the town. Little by little, the ◊ The Dogs Tower space was structured into three distinct ◊ The Clocktower parts, that the kings called their three castles. Thus, from west to east, the Fort Coudray rocky promontory is divided by ditches, ◊ The Boissy Tower separating the three castles: Fort Coudray, ◊ The Mill Tower the Middle castle and Fort Saint George. ◊ The Coudray Tower Each of them has a separate fortified enclosure. The royal quarters stand in Fort Saint George the Middle Castle. the three castles ◊ the middle castle

At the time of Charles VII, the royal quarters took on their definitive configuration, with three wings arranged The royal around a courtyard. In the 15th century, quarters the quarters housed the royal apartments. These include the essential amenities: an antechamber and a bedroom, bathroom From the late 12th century onwards, the and closet. The service rooms and the site of the royal quarters featured a large dining room are on the ground floor. hall used for court life. In the course of the Located at the eastern end of this wing, 13th century, a smaller building was added the 14th century Hall of Justice became to the west. Around 1370, Duke Louis I of the great hall of the castle also known as Anjou undertook the reconstruction of the the «Hall of Recognition”. To the north, one royal quarters, introducing a hall of justice. of the buildings of the Saint-Melaine priory Of these works, only the south wing has was transformed into a hall for playing survived to the present day. court tennis (jeu de paume).

32 33 the three castles ◊ the middle castle

Its walls are five meters thick and embrasures for cannons feature down to the lowest level, at ditch height. The The Argenton top terrace is on the same level as the courtyard of the Middle Castle. This tower, Tower less elevated than the others, is hence less fragile. It served as a prison in the 17th In 1477, King Louis XI entrusted the century, as evidenced by the graffiti on fortress of Chinon to his biographer walls. The bombards (primitive canons) Philip Commynes, Lord of Argenton. arranged on the terrace are originals He reinforced the northwest corner of dating back to the later 16th century. the Middle Castle by building a new, more From this terrace, you can also observe robust tower, able to withstand the new the reconstruction of a wooden crane, gunpowder weapons. from the late 12th or 13th century.

34 35 the three castles ◊ the middle castle

It has three vaulted levels surmounted by a terrace. Access is on the middle The Dogs floor. This is now on the same level as the Middle Castle, which was not the Tower case in the Middle Ages. The loop-holes or arrow slits are offset from one level to The Dogs Tower is one of the great another to provide effective defence and towers built during the reign of Philip to avoid weakening the wall structure. Auguste, like the Coudray Tower and Latrines are provided between the first the Watchtower (tour de l'Échauguette). and second floors. The bread oven situated In contrast to the two others, it is not on the middle floor, like the one in the circular but in a horseshoe shape. It owes neighbouring tower, probably dates back its name to nearby kennels, which housed to the 15th century and provided for the the royal hounds in the 15th century. needs of the court.

36 37 the three castles ◊ the middle castle

Originally, the tower featured a door in a tall, slender structure, with a semi-circular extremity. Under the reign of Philippe Auguste, in the early 13th century, it was elevated and secured with a portcullis and the a drawbridge. It was defended by three loop-holes. In the late 14th century, it clocktower was considerably elevated, in order to accommodate rooms. A spiral staircase In its current lofty and slender was created to provide access to the five configuration, the Clocktower dates from levels that the tower now boasted. An old the late 14th century. Since the end of the “Chinonais” saying tells us the name of 12th century, it has served as the entrance the bell that has rung out on the hour to the Middle Castle. It takes its name since 1399: from the clock installed in the turret that “Mary-Javelle rises above roof level. Is my name. Whoever set me Set me well Who may remove me The day will rue” 38 39 the three castles ◊ fort coudray

The Boissy On the ground floor there is a guardroom, featuring loop-holes (arrow slits) that watch Tower over the valley and the Coudray moat. A stairway built into the walls gives access The Boissy Tower was erected in the 13th to the two floors and the terrace. From century, perhaps at the time of Saint Louis the terrace, there is access to the Coudray (Louis IX). It derives its name from the Tower, via a walkway. In the early 15th lords of Boissy, governors of the Castle century, major alterations were made. of Chinon in the 16th century. It offers a The tower now communicated with the clear view of the valley and was probably royal quarters, via a walkway and through home to a chapel on the first floor, under an added gate, preceded by a drawbridge. its elegantly sculpted arches. An extra floor was also added.

40 41 the three castles ◊ fort coudray

The Mill It is the only tower of the castle to be Tower protected in its lower part by a perimeter wall. You go in at ground floor level from The Tower Mill is a prime example of Fort Coudray. The ground floor does not military architecture from the days of King communicate with the first floor, accessible John. It is a key element of Fort Coudray, only by the walkway. Both rooms are built in the late 12th century. The ground equipped with loop-holes opening into floor, with its polygonal plan, and niches, characteristic of the time. The segmental, domed roof, is typical of the top floor, which forms a perfect lookout, era, but very rare in Plantagenet castles. features six large windows. Access from the It owes its name to the presence of a first floor is by a staircase built into in the windmill perched on its summit, a feature thickness of the wall, which also rises onto of the modern era. the terrace.

42 43 the three castles ◊ fort coudray

The tower is flanked by a door with a drawbridge and a portcullis, which secures the Fort Coudray. There are still three The Coudray levels intact, all featuring loop-holes. The first two are covered with a Gothic vault. Tower Access to the tower is on the second floor, and the door is protected by a trap (drop- The Coudray Tower is the one of the three box). It has fireplaces and latrines. The surviving towers from the works carried lower room features a tunnel entrance, out by Philippe Auguste after he captured allowing occupants to escape discreetly the fortress in 1205. It overlooks the Mill in case of siege. These design details were Tower built by his enemy King John. Its modern and sophisticated, and are a sign name dates from the Middle Ages and of the close attention that the royal powers may be due to the presence of a grove of paid to Chinon. It was used as a prison for hazelnut trees inside the fort (“coudres” dignitaries of the Order of the Temple in in old French). 1308. Joan of Arc was a guest there in 1429.

44 45 the three castles ◊ fort saint george

fort saint george

Around 1160, Henry II Plantagenet built a new set of buildings to the east of the old fortress inherited from his Forty years later, the son of Henry II, King ancestors. This palace, designed without John, strengthened the defences of the any military purpose, was intended for castle to resist the pressure of his rival King his administration and to hold his court Philippe Auguste of France. He fortified when he was in residence at Chinon. Fort Saint George, which became an outpost Fort Saint George was named after protecting the main castle from the direction the palace’s chapel, dedicated to Saint of the road to Tours. Today, it houses the George, patron saint of knights. new welcome centre for the fortress.

46 47 ◊ scenography ◊ companies

Sponsor Audiovisual and multimedia Conseil général d’Indre-et-Loire production Compagnie des taxis-brousse Design, lighting scenography Drôle de trame Frédéric Casanova Extras for historical reconstructions: Association pour l'histoire vivante Management of productions, mediation Printing of guidebook Michel Kouklia (Ubiscène) Imprimerie Escourbiac

Graphics, printing & signage Fittings and organisation Agnès Dahan GL Events services

Scientific committee (Cg37) Multimedia equipment Marie-Eve Scheffer, archaeologist, ETC audiovisuel fortress director Bruno Dufaÿ, archaeologist, head Networks, lighting of Archaeology department Sté Bideau Julie Pellegrin, chief curator, Monuments and Museums Principal by delegation SET Sté d’équipement de la Touraine The films in the historical Hélène Garric show rooms were created by Anne Lavat Benjamin Silvestre The restructuring of the fortress was Excerpts of films completed with the assistance of: p. 6: Jacques Develay ; p. 10: Roxane Lebrun, Elisabeth Montaufray, Jean- Baptiste Chauvin, Thomas Laliberté; p. 14: Franck Beckmann, Pierre Bayard, p. 18 : Aurélia Poirier

forteresse royale de chinon