Royal Château of Amboise, share the emotions of king!
Léonardo Da Vinci burial site
Palace of the kings of France during the Renaissance
Most beautiful panorama of the Loire Valley
Imagine a palace on a promontory above the Loire, and imagine the hanging gardens between heaven and earth … Amboise was one of the favorite sites of the kings of France when they transformed their country during the Renaissance period. Anne de Bretagne, François Ier or Léonard de Vinci (buried in the chapel of the castle), are familiar faces here which we rediscover through the HistoPad. A living castle open to nature, a haven of peace for more than 90 species of birds, Amboise also offers a 360 ° view of landscapes listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
The royal residence
The royal residence corresponds to one of the former places of life of the Court of France at the castle. It includes three levels of visit: the ground floor and the first floor are devoted to the evocation of the Renaissance (reign of the kings of France), the second floor to that of the 19th century (period of renewal for the castle of ‘Amboise, under the reign of Louis-Philippe).
In particular, you will be able to discover the guard rooms, the great Council room and its spectacular decorations, the king’s bedroom or the cavalier tower of the minims. All rooms are mediated with the HistoPad tablet, which is given to you free of charge when you go to the ticket office.
Saint-Hubert Chapel
Visible as soon as you approach, the Saint Hubert chapel is one of the architectural jewels of the Château d’Amboise. Former private oratory of the kings of France which seems to be suspended above the city, it houses sumptuous decorations sculpted in the tufa, this soft stone typical of the Loire Valley allowing the finest work. Do not miss to look up at the remarkable stained glass windows of the building.
It is in this setting that you can discover the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. As he had expressed his wish, the Italian genius rests in Amboise for eternity. The chapel is mediated with the HistoPad tablet.
Due to its ongoing restoration, access to the interior of the chapel is suspended for an indefinite period. During this period, HistoPad tablets will allow you to discover and explore the building using augmented reality technology. These tablets, included in the entrance ticket to the castle, are given to you on your arrival.
The garden
The garden of the royal castle of Amboise covers just over 2 hectares. It consists of two main parts: the terrace of Naples, the lines of which were designed by a Neapolitan landscape painter at the end of the 15th century and which was then the first “Italian-style” garden in the kingdom, and the contemporary garden, composed on the contours of the English-style park imagined by Louis-Philippe in the 19th century. Among the must-see places: the thousands of perfectly pruned boxwood balls and remarkable tree species.
Do not miss also to discover, from the belvedere, the conservatory of the mulberry tree recently created. We want to restore to the garden the spirit of pleasure that has always inhabited it throughout its history. All the lawns are thus accessible to you, in particular for your picnics. Maintained in an ecological way, the garden of the Château d’Amboise benefits from the Jardin Remarquable and Refuge ornithologique LPO labels.
The walls
From its elevated position at the tip of a rocky outcrop, the royal castle of Amboise offers a unique panorama over the landscapes of the Loire Valley. Do not miss to go around the ramparts to discover, to the west, the perspective on the city and, to the north and east, the magnificent viewpoints on the river.
