9: Medieval Streets vs. Modern Cars

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!

[map style="width: 300px; height:300px; float:left; margin:10px 20px 0px 0px; border: 1px thin #777777;" gpx="http://saras-bike-travels.de/wp-content/uploads/gpxFiles/20130831_day8_reduced.gpx"] We located our B&B (lovely room!) and made our way to its parking lot (neither an easy task) then considered our options.  Although we had originally considered canoeing or taking a boat trip on the Vienne, the weather was rather gray and so we opted out and spent the next several hours exploring the charming medieval town with its fascinating history. It was much more comfortable on foot than in the car!

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.