Sleeping in the Château
The Val d’Amboise is well known for its extensive range of luxury accommodation
The long tradition of hospitality in Val d'Amboise
On 30 June 1470, the future Charles VIII was born in Amboise. Raised by his mother Charlotte at the Amboise Château Royal, he would explore the forests and paths of Val d’Amboise during great hunting days, seeking out the finest game. Crowned in 1483, just barely of age, it was natural that he would choose his hometown to establish the seat of his government. Following in his footsteps, dukes, counts and great royal servants would come to join him in his homeland, hoping to benefit from great favours by getting as close as possible to the monarch. As a result, all around Amboise, castles, both big and small, began to spring up, alongside manors and stately homes, intended to comfortably welcome these great personalities.
Over five centuries later, these castles and stately homes are still standing. All you need to do is take a walk through the streets of Amboise or head out for a stroll in the surrounding countryside to see it for yourself. Often surrounded by lush parks, these castles and manors perpetuate their history of hospitality by offering bed, and often board, to visitors in search of an experience worthy of a king!
Sleeping in the Château: a royal experience in Val d'Amboise
Val d’Amboise is well known for its wide range of luxury accommodation. And though the king ruled from his castle in Amboise, the surrounding villages, too, are packed full of fantastic options to stay in a luxury establishment. The Château de Pray, in Chargé, for example, owes its Medieval origins to the lords of Pray who began its construction in the 13th century. Remodelled during the Renaissance, today it is home to the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Val d’Amboise. Just a stone’s throw away, in the town of Mosnes, the Domaine des Thomeaux evokes the classic style of 18th-century stately homes, with its façade of perfectly aligned windows. Its spa delights all visitors in search of a cosy wellness experience. Closer to Amboise, the Château des Arpentis, located in Saint-Règle, recalls the presence of King Louis XIII, who was invited to dine, one evening in June 1619, by the Duke of Luynes who owned this fine castle at the time, referenced since the Middles Ages.
Cross the Loire and stop for a few moments at Nazelles-Négron, a charming little village clinging to the hillside. Just a stone’s throw from there stand two beautiful little gems. The Château de Nazelles, built in 1518, is an ancient stately hamlet offering up a host of experiences – including Terra Alta, its truly original cave accommodation. Not far from there, the Château de Perreux presents a more unusual stone and brick architecture, topped with slate-roofed turrets. Continue on your way towards the west to reach the little village of Noizay. The Château de Noizay, whose construction began in the 16th century, recalls the heyday of the French Renaissance, at the heart of its carefully designed, elegant gardens
Castles and manors: an exceptional stay in Val d'Amboise
Retrace your steps and explore the streets of Amboise. In the shadows of the three great castles built by the Renaissance kings, a multitude of little palaces and stately homes reveal themselves at each street corner. The Hôtel Choiseul evokes the presence of the Duke of Choiseul in Amboise, the former prime minister to Louis XV, exiled in Touraine. The Manoir Saint-Thomas, whose priory dates back to the 12th century, is said to have housed Francis I and the beautiful Diane of Potiers, the future royal mistress. Salamanders, dolphins and fleur-de-lis still evoke this royal stay. On the heights of the city, the Manoir de la Maison Blance offers up a moment of absolute tranquillity in its park filled with hundred-year-old trees, just a few minutes from the finest castles.
In the 14 towns of Val d’Amboise, from the historic heart of the royal city to the smallest hamlet, dozens of stately homes, hotels, lodges or guesthouses offer the promise of an exceptional stay. Check out the Accommodation section on our website to discover all of Val d’Amboise’s little gems
This is a non-exhaustive list; it illustrates the wide variety of charming accommodations in the Val d’Amboise, but is just a small example of what’s on offer in the Amboise Loire Valley destination.
