Celebrating in the Château
Exceptional shows in the most beautiful Val de Loire monuments
First painter, architect and engineer to the king, Leonardo da Vinci was also one of the greatest party planners of the Renaissance. When it came time to entertain the king and the court, his already-fertile imagination knew no limit! As such, for the ‘Festival of Paradise’, he staged the gardens of the castles with all the skill of the greatest contemporary set designers. Costumes, lights, fireworks and automatons amazed all the guests, enchanted by the ingenuity and creativity of the Italian genius. Five centuries later, the castles of Val d’Amboise continue to compete in imagination to offer the public sumptuous spectacles magnifying the walls and gardens of the finest monuments of Val de Loire
Destinées Royales show at the Amboise Château Royal
Every Wednesday and Saturday evening in summer, the Hisloire association takes over the park of the Amboise Château Royal to present the incredible “Destinées Royales” show. An evolving and interactive show, at the heart of which spectators step back in time to meet the greatest characters of Amboise history. Francis I, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles VIII, Anne of Brittany and more … dozens of costumed volunteers take on the roles of these great figures of our history in a joyful ballet of anecdotes and a flurry of Renaissance dances. A unique experience, only in Val d’Amboise! Still at the Amboise Château Royal, Renaissance balls, candlelit evenings and Renaissance-music festivals bring the cultural season to life, reawakening the walls of the royal monument just like in the time of the kings!
Cultural season at the Château Gaillard Royal Estate
Just a stone’s throw away, at the Château Gaillard Royal Estate, the cultural season presents a host of family activities and musical events at the castle. Halloween and Christmas are two key moments of the year for the castle’s teams, who compete in creativity each year to offer activities for children. Story-telling, creative workshops and treasure hunts delight both parents and little ones. Occasional concerts and cultural events also come to illuminate the Renaissance façade of Mercoliano’s castle, like the Nuit des Châteaux each year on the third weekend of October.
Shows and concerts at the Château du Clos Lucé
A quick drive from the Royal Estate, the Château du Clos Lucé also presents a rich calendar of events to experience the majestic of the great festivities within the castle. On the weekends of the 14th of July and 15th of August, theatre and light shows magnify the park of Leonardo da Vinci’s last residence, to the delight of the crowds! In late September, the European Renaissance Music Festival brings together the greatest virtuosos of Renaissance music at the Château du Clos Lucé, with a rich and ever-renewed programme. For the Christmas festivities, a diverse calendar of events brings young and old together around the magic of Christmas, between creative workshops, themed tours and story-telling.
The spirit of Francis Poulenc at the Grand Coteau
On the other bank of the Loire, we couldn’t forget to the mention the Grand Coteau: home of Francis Poulenc, located in Noizay. Within these walls, packed with history and clinging onto the hillside opposite the valley, the composer worked in the reigning calm and serenity to create his now legendary works. Cocteau, Colette and Picasso all came to visit him here, in a creative and artistic atmosphere which must have permeated each and every room of the manor. The Grand Coteau occasionally welcomes recitals and concerts, particularly those focused on the work of this man who remains one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.
Mezzo Aperitifs at the Château
All year round, the Val d’Amboise Tourist Office offers visitors the chance to enjoy a memorable experience for an evening in a castle reserved just for them. The Mezzo Aperitifs are exclusive evenings, limited to a very small number of participants. Hosted in one of the castles of Val d’Amboise, whether small or large, visitors will savour the finest products of the local land – all sourced through short supply chains – with wines, cheeses, charcuterie, sweets and desserts; a musical evening to the sound of a local band offering up jazz, soul or gospel. Above all, this is the opportunity to enjoy these sites in absolute peace, calm and, of course, exclusivity! Walking in the illuminated gardens of a Renaissance castle, a glass in hand, gently rocked by the sound of jazz – sounds like a dream, right?
