Chinon Castle

Chinon chateau was built for the first time in stone in 954 by theobald I, comte de Blois on a steep Plateau. The stronghold has replaced a lighter wooden structure, the passed to the rival comte d’Anjou Geoffroy Martel in 1044. The comte d’Anjou was the first to join the walls of the original defensive structures as well as adding towrs and the chapel of St. Melanie. The far east wing was added by Henry II Plantagenet until 1205 he and his descendants continued construction work adding the frotress to the east and the internal Chapel, the mill tower and the numerous reinforcement towers.