Amboise Castle - Château d'Amboise

Built between the 15th and 16th centuries under the successive reigns of Charles VIII, Louis XII and François I, the château d'Amboise was one of the very first Royal residences. The very prestigious chateau, combines both Gothic and Renaissance style architecture, and contains a very beautiful collection of furniture. The spirit of Leonardo da Vinci still haunts this place. It is thought that he is buried in the Chapelle Saint-hubert in the chateau, an example of flamboyant Gothic architecture. The panoramic gardens provide a beautiful view of the town of Amboise below and of the Loire Valley.

Coming soon : Renaissance sound and light at the Château d'Amboise

Our observations:

The Chateau is accessible on foot by going over a long ramp from the pedestrian streets in Amboise. These narrow and lively streets, like the one under the clock tower, protect visitors from the noisy commotion of automobile traffic, which one cannot avoid on the boulevard that borders the Loire. But this is not the way we chose to get a view of the chateau..

Instead, we decided to get a good look at the chateau from the'île d'Or, in the Loire,  facing the city, which provides the best view of the chateau. If you would like to photograph the entirety of the chateau (like the photo above), hop into your car and go to the Island. Crossing the Loire on foot over the bridge is extremely dangerous. There are no pedestrian crossings, and the sidewalks are ridiculously narrow.

Château d'Amboise

Open everyday of the year (except for Christmas and New Years)

During tourist season there is a sound and light show on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Phone. 02 47 57 00 98

Back to home page