Paris1972-Versailles2003

Ok so this is another new visit, text, pics, the works. I have been here before and have older post in my blog. Lately, from my new surroundings only been there for my house wines and out. Until this week, I took my whole gang including our dog Rex, (stayed outside) and we indulge ourselves in the Château d’Amboise ,part I !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

Let me take you again on a new visit and pictures to one of my favorite castles , Amboise. Not only it is a great castle with wonderful views of the Loire but it houses the Leonardo da Vinci house and museum (see post) of the great genius.  However, the main thing to see is the Royal Chateau or castle, you first arrive at the Terrases from the 15-16C as it was the first castle to introduce the Italian renaissance style in France. Here in the terraces you see the Chapelle Saint Hubert, dedicated to the patrons saint of hunters built under king Louis XI and finished by king Charles VIII, it is the resting place of the genius Leonardo da Vinci from May 2,1519.  From the outside the castle is a prime example of the Renaissance of which king François I was the initiator. He was responsable for bringing Leonardo da Vinci over to his kingdom in 1516, when he was 64 yrs old.

The royal castle of Amboise is a former residence of the kings of France overlooking the Loire river, in Amboise, in dept 37 of Indre-et-Loire in the Centre Val de Loire region, Before being attached to the crown in 1434, the castle belonged, for more than four centuries, to the mighty House of Amboise. During the Renaissance, it served as the residence of several kings, notably Charles VIII, Louis XII and François I.

Now you are going inside the castle, you see the salle des gardes, where the kings guards were kept to control access to his bedroom. You go up unto the promenoir des gardes or the walkway of the guards where they can surveyed the Loire, passing into the salle des gardes nobles, where the nobles kept guard of the king and control the stairs leading to his rooms. Continue on to the salle des tambourineurs where the feast ,parties were held as to the wishes of the king. You reach the salle du conseil, the most important room of the castle where the king give his orders and received advised from his counselors, a notion of modern government.

You go now into the salle de l’échanson, where you drank with the king, and eat; then la chambre Henri II, or bedroom; passing into the antichambre de la cordeliére where the entrance today has disappeared. Then you transposed into the appartements of Louis-Philippe of which he made several changes to the castle, king of the French from 1830. You see the cabinet Louis-Philippe where he did his studies and pass laws, to his bedroom or chambre style premier empire, and continue to the Salon de musique, with piano . You come back to the parks with the tour des Minimes with a great view of the river Loire ,and you exit the castle. Wonderful castle indeed !!!

A bit of history I like (more) tell us that since Neolithic times, the Châteliers promontory has been an ideal observation post at the confluence of the Loire and one of its tributaries, the Amasse. The overhang of almost forty meters offers an exceptional natural defence. The city became the main city of the Turones, a Celtic people who gave their name to the future province of Touraine. The site was fortified from that time. The Roman legions also occupied the fortified site. Local chronicles tell that Julius Caesar himself would have been seduced by the oppidum of Amboise. However, the site entered lasting history during the meeting of Clovis, king of the Franks and Alaric, king of the Visigoths. After the troubled period of the Norman invasions, Amboise joined the domain of the counts of Anjou, then that of the house of Amboise-Chaumont. In 1214, Touraine was invaded by Philippe Auguste, King of France. The Amboise-Chaumont family became vassals. But in 1431, Louis d’Amboise was condemned to death for having plotted against the favorite of King Charles VII, La Trémouille. Finally pardoned, Louis d’Amboise must however give up the Château d’Amboise, confiscated for the benefit of the Crown. It was partially destroyed after the French revolution: from Charles VIII’s project, however, remains the royal residence, the Saint-Hubert Chapel where the remains of Leonardo da Vinci rest, the terraces and the cavalier towers which give the monument this singular silhouette. Its monumental fortress-palace is the very last great royal fortified castle built in France today.

The Minimes tower and the Heurtault tower, both very massive, allowed carriages and teams to climb onto the terrace, as their summit is accessed by gently sloping ramps. They are located respectively on the north and west facade of the castle and are of Renaissance architecture. A panoramic lounge was built on the roof of the Minimes tower in 1843 and has now been destroyed. It welcomed Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) when he came to signify his release to Abd El-Kader (Algeria indepen hero) in 1852. The top of the tower was redone a few decades later. and the castle terraces. Charles-Quint uses the cavalier ramp of the Heurtault tower to make his entrance in 1539. A torch will also ignite a wall hanging during the passage of the imperial convoy.

The royal castle of Amboise has an exceptional collection of furniture, testifying to the artistic refinement of the first French Renaissance. From room to room, precious pieces of French history are discussed during the visit of the house. We also discover an astonishing architecture. The castle of Amboise belongs to the Saint-Louis foundation.

 The official Château d’Amboise : https://www.chateau-amboise.com/en/

The city of Amboise on its heritage: https://www.ville-amboise.fr/88/monuments-a-visiter.htm

The local Val de Loire tourist office on the château d’Amboise :  https://www.tourainevaldeloire.com/en/offers/chateau-royal-damboise-amboise-en-5153576/

The Centre Val de Loire region tourist office on the Château d’Amboise :  https://www.loirevalley-france.co.uk/discover/loire-chateaux/royal-chateau-amboise/

There you go folks, a dandy in the marvelous Loire Valley of my belle France. You need to come to the castle of the kings, the Château d’Amboise! It is a must me think, Again hope you have enjoy this post on the Château d’Amboise , part I as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!