Gastronomy and art of living

If there’s one tradition that has made its way down through the centuries in Val d’Amboise, it is that of winegrowing. Even in the time of Francis I, this king sang the praises of the divine beverage produced on the plains and hillsides bordering the Loire. Today still, several dozen winegrowers work the land and pamper their grapes to produce this famous nectar.
Red, white or rosé, they are all, just like our lands, royal! These vintages complement the menus of restaurants, when they’re not savoured directly on the winery’s estate. In any case, they go perfectly with our local specialities. A chenin blanc will pair perfectly with a Loire fish terrine or a good goat’s cheese, especially a Sainte Maure de Touraine. Meanwhile, a côt rouge is ideal with rillettes or rillons, or savoured with a beautiful dish of Géline de Touraine – the queen of poultry.

Thousands of artisans accompanied the Court to provide the greatest lords with the finest dishes and most delicate products. Their descendants can still be found in Val d’Amboise today, keen to share their know-how. In the village of Chargé, just 4 km from Amboise, glassblower Pierre Gallou opens his workshop for demonstrations of this ancestral art. Just a stone’s throw from there, potter Magali Delvaux throws open the doors of his workshop and welcomes young and old for an introduction to clay modelling.

Did you know? The Amboise market was voted France’s Favourite Market in 2015. Having regularly received nominations since then, it amazes locals and visitors from all over the world every Friday and Sunday morning. Cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, vegetables, meats, wines and more. A real rainbow of 100% local colours, flavours and scents!