looking for ideas of things to do and places to eat and wine taste in Chinon, France. One day trip.
Posted by
Denver, CO USA
657 posts
Worth more than a day
Posted by
Loire Valley
849 posts
Where are you coming from? Chinon is difficult without a car
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Taking the train from Paris
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8545 posts
Although Chinon has a nice, if largely "a ruin" chateau/fortress right in town, you may be at the mercy of ride-sharing (assuming it exists there) to see anything out of town. Chinon is a nice big town to be on foot in (Month of the Year ??), with lots of restaurants. But it is a long ride from Paris to NOT include the most famous sights in the Loire Valley. (Which is, a hard place to visit without a car. There are tours with transportation to book in advance, but we didn't use that.)
The most famous chateaux are not in any town, but (just to mention one alternative) Azay has a couple of real sights, with a town to visit and eat in as well.
Most independent wineries are out of towns, and require reservations for, typically paid, visits. I'm sure there are retail wine stores in Chinon that can provide an opportunity for multiple tastings. It's not a reason to change your plans, but I noticed there is a nuclear power plant beside Chinon that is much more ... visible ... than American nuclear plants, and closer to the road. No sidewalk from town, I'm sure, and too far.