The hilltop site, with fabulous views across town and the river, is split into three sections separated by dry moats. The 12th-century Fort St-Georges (which houses the ticket booth and shop) and the Middle Castle with the Logis Royal (Royal Lodgings) remain from the time when the Plantagenet court of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine was held here. Fort du Coudray sits on the tip of the promontory and has 13th-century Tour du Coudray , where Joan of Arc stayed in 1429, and which was used to imprison Knights Templar (find their graffiti inside).
When you initially enter the middle castle, you pass the 14th-century Tour de l’Horloge to reach the Logis Royal. Only the south wing remains of the Logis, and it is filled with interesting multimedia exhibits , a collection of Joan of Arc memorabilia, and area archaeological finds.
The castle has neat multimedia booklets that trigger film and audio in your native language throughout the site, as well as audioguides (€2.50).
