the chateau series: amboise
We have been missing in action… a lot has been going on! We’re planning our next trip… FINALLY! We are off to New Zealand in September – but that’s not what this post is about.
Sharing with you the 6th chateau (and third last) in the series:
Amboise
Majestically located, looking down on the town of Amboise and Loire River, this fortress (or chateau) was a palace during the Renaissance. From the outside, you can clearly see why. It’s location provided security for the royal family (at least when they were staying there).
It allowed great visibility of the dangers below and any incoming threats via the river.
Once inside the grounds, the first thing we visit is St Hubert Chapel – the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci who died in Amboise in May 1519. This small chapel was crowded with visitors and also was a spot for refuge as the rain came down on the day we were there.
Again, as with the other chateaus we have shared – from room to room, we spot the necessary large fireplaces, the token suit of armour(s) and the colourful furniture.
This particular 18th Century chair (with an identical one on the other side of the fire place) caught our attention. The image and colours were just delightful to look at.
This was actually the cavalier ramp designed to allow horses and carriages to reach the towers from the town.
Nowadays, you can’t enter that way, it’s the way to exit the chateau – spiralling all the way from the top to the bottom and spitting us out on the street.
This wasn’t really a memorable chateau for us, it felt a little cold and impersonal. And we felt outside was more of the wow-factor than the inside.
Amboise is approximately 24 km east of Tours and about a 10 minute walk from Clos du Luce
Have you visited Amboise? What did you think of it?
We welcome your comments.
wise monkeys abroad 
July 25, 2015 at 3:52 pm
I have a thing for all things and places with old world charm to them. Be it books, castles, cities or anything for that matter. This was perhaps the main reason I am simply in love with this blog. Very well written and clicked. I would love to go here someday.
August 2, 2015 at 6:09 pm
Thank you so much Soumya for stopping by our blog and for leaving us your kind comment 🙂 We are very much interested in the old world and hope that what we share interests you and all our readers!!
July 12, 2015 at 10:36 am
A trip to NZ. How exciting, if a little chilly in September! Are you doing both islands?
July 12, 2015 at 1:30 pm
We will be in South Island 🙂 Really looking forward to it!
July 12, 2015 at 2:41 pm
You will have a wonderful time. Make sure you go to Akaroa and Wanaka. I’ve written about both places.
July 13, 2015 at 11:48 am
Wanaka is on the list – we think we will stay there for a night. Hadn’t really though about Akaroa… will definitely add it to our list.
Will check out your posts now about them!
July 14, 2015 at 6:30 am
You must go to Akaroa. It is so beautiful. And you could easily spend a couple of days at Wanaka. You would enjoy the walk to see Rob Roy Glacier.
July 14, 2015 at 7:39 am
Ok – let’s see if it is on the way to what we have planned 🙂
July 5, 2015 at 5:43 am
The spiral internal ramp for the horses rather fascinated me. That beautiful and unusual chair also caught my eye. Not as beautiful a visit as most, but interesting nevertheless.
July 9, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Yes the chair is really something, huh? All the chateaux have an element that makes them different to the next 🙂
June 30, 2015 at 5:58 am
very different. looks a bit like a converted church!
June 30, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Hmmm…. That is definitely a different way to look at it! Always can count on you for that Andrew 🙂
June 29, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Have loved all these Chateaus! And have fun planning for your upcoming trip!
June 29, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Thanks Diana! Two more chateaux to share – Hope you have been well!
June 29, 2015 at 3:13 pm
I agree with you. From your photos, it looks marvelous on the outside but kind of bland on the inside. It must be very picturesque though!
June 29, 2015 at 7:44 pm
It was very picturesque but lacked something special… Guess it can have everything 😉
June 29, 2015 at 3:08 pm
Hello wise monkeys… I did miss your posts! The chair is indeed very pretty!
June 29, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Awww thanks Shikha – hoping to be a bit more regular nowadays! Let’s see 🙂 hope you are well!
June 29, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Hey guys, have a great trip to New Zealand! It is one of my all time favorite places. I’ll be off the Net for the next couple of months. See you in September. –Curt
June 29, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Thanks Curt! We haven’t been online much ourselves other than on the occasional post and social media. So what have we missed with you? Thanks for letting us know – Where are you off to??
June 30, 2015 at 5:00 am
I’ve been far too much of a homebody. 🙂
Not too far. First we have our five grandchildren descending on us. Then Peggy is heading off to London with her sister. I’ll be taking a road trip… wherever the wind blows me. 🙂 –Curt
June 30, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Sounds like you have exciting times ahead planned – oh to have the time to just ‘wing it’ – have a wonderful time and look forward to having you back online in September 🙂
July 1, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Thanks. 🙂
June 28, 2015 at 8:48 pm
We were here two nights for a cycle tour of the Loire Valley. We liked the town a lot. We never made it to this Chateau but did visit Leonardo DaVinci’s home. Did you make it there? It was pretty cool. Great set of photos. Cheers
June 29, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Lovely to cycle through the area 🙂 We went by car 😉 And yes, we did visit Clos du Luce – that was our previous post! 🙂 We really enjoyed it there!
June 28, 2015 at 8:16 pm
It’s interesting that so many châteaux and villages in France are built on the top of a hill or cliff where there is a good view of approaching armies. My mother-in-law, who is from Cornwall, says that most villages in England are built in the valley where they are protected by the surrounding hills. Interesting how the history of battles and invasions has so influenced where people settled.
June 29, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Yes, there certainly is great reason to be atop a hill and inside a valley! All the ways to stay safe… We love learning about these interesting types of facts when we travel and read 🙂
June 28, 2015 at 7:52 pm
Never visited this chateau. But from your photos it certainly looks worthy of a visit! That chair does have a bit of a fun pattern on it. So pretty, I wondered if anyone actually sat on it all those years ago. I certainly wouldn’t sit on it.
So exciting, trip to New Zealand soon. September’s not far away. Better start packing 😉 It’s still freezing cold in Melbourne. Hope Sydney is doing better!
June 29, 2015 at 8:09 pm
Hahah – never too early to pack?? 😉 Can’t wait for spring to be here…. Hate the cold!!
The chair is way too nice to sit on… Possibly just ornamental?!
Hope your book is coming along 🙂
June 28, 2015 at 7:12 pm
In the first picture it already looks very impressive however something seems to be missing, cant say what exactly though
June 29, 2015 at 8:07 pm
Glad you agree with us… Just lacked a little something that made it not so WOW 🙂 Counting down to your
holiday?
June 29, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Indeed I am 70days left (hope I counted right!)
June 30, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Not long to go then 🙂
June 28, 2015 at 5:40 pm
It looks like an impenetrable fortress! Love all the architecture and that ramp is so lovely to think that they brought in the horses that way…really like it..👍😁
June 29, 2015 at 8:07 pm
Wouldn’t it just be so cool to watch the horses trotting up the ramp! To be a fly on the wall back in the day…
June 29, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Yeah, definitely..👍😋
June 28, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Stop it! You are giving me itchy feet again 😦
Apart from that, I love the post and photos, of course 😉
June 29, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Awwww Ken – the itchy feet never leaves us 🙂