Musée de la Devinière

Description:

• The most famous son of Chinon, François Rabelais, the earthy and often bawdy Renaissance writer, lived on rue de la Lamproie. (A plaque marks the spot where his father practiced law and maintained a home and office.) This site, in the suburb of La Devinière, 5.5km (3 1/2 miles) west of Chinon, was an isolated cottage at the time of his birth. It was maintained, because of local superstition and custom, for the sole purpose of delivering the children of the Rabelais clan into the world.

  The museum has three floors of exposition space, each focusing on an aspect of Rabelais, his times, and his role in Chinon. In two neighboring buildings, you'll find exhibits on aspects of life during the Middle Ages, including an unusual display on medicinal plants. Regrettably, the theater presentations that showcased some of Rabelais's literary achievements are no longer presented.

• © Frommer's 2012