Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Canoeing/Kayaking from Chinon
From May through mid-October, plastic canoes and kayaks are available to rent next to
thecampgroundacrossthelonebridgeinChinon.Theoutfitterswillshuttleyouupriverto
tiny Anché forascenic andfuntwo-hour,four-mile float back totown—ending with great
Chinon fortress views. They also offer a 10-mile, half-day float that starts in Chinon and
ends downriver in the sweet little village of Candes-St-Martin. Or do your own biathlon
by canoeing one way and biking back (see “Helpful Hints,” earlier, for rental location and
costs).
Nighttime in Chinon
Café Français
has live music several nights a week. Run by Jean François (a.k.a. “Jeff”),
it's a characteristic local hangout and
the
place for any late-night fun in this sleepy town
(open Tue-Sat from 18:00 and Sun from 19:00 until you shut it down, closed Mon, behind
town hall at 37 Rue des Halles, tel. 02 47 93 32 78).
Hotels are a good value in Chinon. If you stay overnight here, walk out to the river and
cross the bridge for a floodlit view of the château walls.
$$$ Best Western Hôtel de France***
offersgoodcomfortin30roomsonChinon's
best square; many have partial views of the fortress (Db-€115-150, Tb/Qb-€160-200, in-
cludes breakfast, several rooms have balconies over the square, some have thin walls, air-
con,Wi-Fi,parking,49PlaceduGénéraldeGaulle,tel.0247933391,
www.bestwestern-
