Visiting the castles
Enjoy a royal moment as you visit the castles of Val d'Amboise
From the medieval fortress of the Renaissance palace, kings, princes and great lords have left their mark on the architectural landscape of Val d’Amboise. In their wake, the land has seen a host of beautiful gardens spring up on their fertile lands. Romantic, magical, delicious and surprising … Each one is well worth a detour!
Amboise Château Royal
The Château d'Amboise, witness to the great history of France
From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, via the Golden Age and the Renaissance, the Amboise Château Royal embodies more than any other monument in the great history of France. Once serving as the residence of King Charles VIII and Queen Anne of Brittany, it also bore witness to the extraordinary ascension of a young boy with an unusual destiny: Francis I. Having become king, he made the castle one of his main residences. There, he also treated the court to extraordinary parties, staged by a maestro who was none other than: Leonardo da Vinci. The Saint-Hubert Chapel, a jewel of Gothic art, is still home to the tomb of the greatest artist in history.
« Gardens blooming in all the colours of the Mediterranean »
Its landscape gardens bloom in all the colours of Italy and the Mediterranean. What’s more, they look out over an exceptional panoramic view, listed as UNESCO World Heritage. The garden of Naples was also designed by the master gardener Dom Pacello da Mercogliano. He unrolled his great carpet of greenery from the main house to a magnificent boxwood grove. The ‘Gardens of the Orient’, built on the heights of the estate, meanwhile, pay tribute to the Emir Abd El Kader and his companions. They invite visitors to reflect and contemplate.
Château du Clos Lucé
The Clos Lucé and Leonardo da Vinci
In Autumn 1516, Leonardo da Vinci moved into a small, red-brick manor away from the hustle and bustle of the Court. From sumptuous parties to giant projects, for three years he amazed everyone who met him with his ingenuity, creativity and inventiveness. Still today, the Château du Clos Lucé exudes the eternal presence of this Renaissance Master!
In his garden looking out over the gardens, you can almost imagine him struggling into his four-poster bed. He was helped by his loyal Milanese servant, Battista da Villanis. At the heart of his loyally reconstructed studios, we can see him doling out tips and tricks to his disciple and friend Francesco Melzi. From his armchair at the end of the dining table, revel in the little secrets shared between him and King Francis I. Meanwhile, the sovereign seems to be in awe of the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa. Opposite the kitchen chimney, we see Mathurine pouring hot soup into her master’s bowl. Then, we see her plucking a peacock to be stuffed with mushrooms, to the delight of the great foodie that was Francis I.
Setting foot inside the Clos Lucé means stepping inside the intimate everyday life of this genius.
The Clos Lucé and Leonardo da Vinci
The seven hectares of the Leonardo da Vinci park are a real treat for the eyes. What’s more, they have something to delight young and old alike. The thirty-something machines imagined by the Florentine genius all call out to adventure. We start trying to accomplish Leonardo’s impossible dream: flying like a bird, before storming an invisible fortress on board the startling cannon tank. On the banks of the river, we understand the logic of the fantastic inventor as we operate the worm drive, before admiring one of his great masterpieces hanging from the branches of a real hundred-year-old oak.
The renaissance of the Château Gaillard
Following colossal restoration works involving several dozen local artisans, the Château Gaillard Royal Estate emerged from its oblivion. The delicate white-stone monument reveals itself at the end of its majestic avenue of lane trees. What’s more, the many grottos dotted all over the limestone hillside are a call to relaxation, especially on hot days.
Château Gaillard Royal Estate.
The most Italian of the Châteaux of the Loire Valley
In the heart of the royal city, the 15 hectares of Dom Pacello’s royal paradise unfold. This is a unique example of the coming together of Italian and French Renaissance artists: the Château Gaillard Royal Estate.
When he discovered the kingdom of Naples in late 1494, Charles VIII literally fell in love with the beauty of Italian villas. Put simply, he was captivated by their lush gardens with their exotic fruits. Upon his return to Amboise, he charged some 20 Italian artisans who accompanied him with recreating this little Mediterranean paradise in the Loire city. When Francis I came to power, he offered the estate to Dom Pacello de Mercoliano, a master gardener in his country. There, he would fully release all his inventiveness. It was here that he planted the first orange trees in the Kingdom, sculpted the vegetation and cultivated rare species that adapted perfectly to the micro-climate of this beautiful sunny valley.
“All that’s missing is Adam and Eve in this wonderful paradise to make it a new Eden.” – Charles VIII
Passing the gates of the Domaine royal de Château Gaillard awakens all the senses. The colors of the flowerbeds, the shine of the stone, the sweet scent of orange blossom, the lapping of the spring, the rustling of the leaves on the hundred-year-old trees. Not forgetting, of course, the taste of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Let yourself be carried away by its sculpted façade, or stroll along one of the seven paths in its centuries-old park. Simply enjoy the tranquility of François 1er’s hidden paradise.
Pagode de Chanteloup
The folly of the Duke of Choiseul
The Pagode de Chanteloup, first and foremost, bears witness to the folly of a man: the Duke of Choiseul. Exiled from Versailles by King Louis XI, his former prime minister had this extraordinary, Chinese-inspired monument constructed on his lands in Amboise. It stood as a tribute to all his loved ones who had shown him their friendship. Once enthroned at the heart of a French-style garden of nearly 4,000 hectares, it is today one of the only traces of an immense palace. It’s said that this palace was equalled only by that of Versailles!
A slender silhouette pointing towards the sky
The Pagode de Chanteloup offers an extraordinary panoramic view over Amboise and the surrounding forest.
As soon as they set foot on the estate, visitors are sure to be amazed by the beauty of this monument and its slender silhouette. From the tip of its 44 metres, it offers a 360° view over the city of Amboise and the Loire Valley on one side, extending out over the deep Amboise forest on the other side. Depending on the time of day, the Pagode’s vertical shadow reflects majestically over the half-moon lake found at its base.
The promise of incredible moments of relaxation
Enjoy your visit to the Pagode de Chanteloup to cross the banks of the great canal. There, you can admire its reflection during a boat outing or meditate in the relaxing atmosphere of its Chinese garden. Young and old alike are sure to enjoy trying out some of the 50 old wooden games dotted around the park. These games of skill will immerse you in the leisure activities of 18th-century high society, for a few good laughs. This is the ideal setting for a family outing, a picnic with friends or a moment of relaxation. The Pagode de Chanteloup is an invitation to calm and contemplation: the promise of incredible shared memories.
