By 10:00 we drove out of Bracieux with me at the wheel. Shortly before Chinon we switched so that I could navigate into town, which was no easy task. The TomTom took us on every cow-path sized road into the medieval center of town... OMG it was hair-raising!
I am particularly drawn to this place because of the Eleanor of Aquitaine / Henry II connection. (The Lion in Winter, anyone?) They resided here and Henry II died in the Chateau in 1189. Chinon was also where Joan of Arc met with Charles VII and he sent her to join the army for the fateful battle in Orléans.
In the evening we dined at Cafe des Arts, my Gignot d'Agneau was ok but not spectacular and Werner's low-temperature roasted veal was literally inedible the first time around (you couldn't cut through the tendons in the meat). Had to send it back but the 2nd time around it was ok. Our wine choice however was spot on – a Chinon Red.