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Chinon and Ussé: Joan of Arc's Fortress and Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Centre-Val de Loire, France

easy
history

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Chinon Templar

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275

XP

+100 France

= 375 total

2 days

Chinon and Ussé: Joan of Arc's Fortress and Sleeping Beauty's Castle

easy
history

275 + 100 XP

Henry II of England died in the fortress of Chinon on 6 July 1189, Joan of Arc arrived here on about 23 February 1429 and was received by Charles VII two days later, and the leaders of the Templars were held in the fortress in August 1308. Ten kilometres north-east, above the Indre, stands Ussé, the château Charles Perrault is said to have had in mind for Sleeping Beauty.

Required Activities

1

of 3

Walk the 300 m spur of the Forteresse royale de Chinon above the Vienne, cross the dry ditches between its three castles, and in the royal apartments of the château du Milieu find the floor slab that marks where Henry II died on 6 July 1189

2

of 3

In the Tour du Coudray at Chinon, the keep Philippe Auguste built after the siege of 1205, find the graffiti attributed to the Templars held here in August 1308 and pick out the angel, the crosses and the instruments of the Passion among them

3

of 3

Visit the Château d'Ussé, said to be the castle behind Perrault's Sleeping Beauty, and walk the chemin de ronde where the tale is staged in wax figures

  • Walk the 300 m spur of the Forteresse royale de Chinon above the Vienne, cross the dry ditches between its three castles, and in the royal apartments of the château du Milieu find the floor slab that marks where Henry II died on 6 July 1189

  • In the Tour du Coudray at Chinon, the keep Philippe Auguste built after the siege of 1205, find the graffiti attributed to the Templars held here in August 1308 and pick out the angel, the crosses and the instruments of the Passion among them

  • Visit the Château d'Ussé, said to be the castle behind Perrault's Sleeping Beauty, and walk the chemin de ronde where the tale is staged in wax figures

Before you go

Ussé opens to visitors from mid-February to mid-November only and is closed for the winter; the fortress at Chinon is open all year. Last tickets at Ussé are issued an hour before closing.

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Challenge Location

XP Breakdown

Challenge XP

275 XP

France country bonus

+100 XP


Potential total

375 XP

Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.

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