Eating at the Château
Soak up the atmosphere of dinners around the royal table
During your visit to the Château du Clos Lucé, in the heart of Amboise, you’re sure to come across the unmissable Mathurine, or, at the very least, you’ll hear her voice echoing from the walls of his kitchen. An established historical figure and cook to Leonardo da Vinci for the three years her master spent in Amboise, there’s nothing she loves more than sharing her anecdotes about Leonardo’s life with visitors, as well as his very unusual eating habits for the time. The chance to learn more about Renaissance cuisine and to imagine yourself set around the royal table
Sieur Sausin, Renaissance chef of the Château du Clos Lucé
No need for imagination in Val d’Amboise; castles and stately homes open up their dining rooms to you to enjoy exceptional culinary experiences. For centuries, Touraine has been known as a land of gastronomy and the art of living, so dear to Rabelais who boasted its many merits in his writings. Lords and ladies, head to the Auberge du Prieuré, located in the park of the Château du Clos Lucé. Sieur Sausin, historic chef, will welcome you there in period costume to offer up an original menu highlighting spices and dishes that would have been enjoyed by the guests of Francis I.
Eating in the castles of the Loire
The other castles of Val d’Amboise also offer the chance to eat within their parks; simple and local cuisine, highlighting original products. As such, the Comptoir des Agrumes, at the Château Gaillard Royal Estate, lists orange-based specialities on its menu, in what was once the laboratory of the Renaissance’s greatest gardener to the kings, Mercoliano.
Arnaud Philippon, chef of the Michelin-starred restaurant of the Château de Pray
Just a few kilometres away, Arnaud Philippon, chef at the Château de Pray, invites you to dive into the meticulous art of French cuisine. At his Michelin-starred restaurant, he highlights certain iconic Loire products, pairing them in simple, locally grown dishes, including vegetables and mushrooms. All in an enchanting setting, protected by the venerable walls of a castle-hotel that came to be alongside some of the most famous Châteaux of the Loire Valley.
The finest restaurants in Val d'Amboise
