The Château d’Amboise!!!

Posted in Europe, France

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 again. This is my take, hope you enjoy it as I.

Amboise castle back side from loire river jan22

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, (see post) 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.

Amboise castle front side jan22

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.

A bit of history I like (more)

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.

Amboise castle back side tower jan22
Amboise castle front far tower jan22

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.

Well my wine place was close this time no rdv taken but for the all times saken,this is it the cellars of the castle, that is where you buy the wines from the Touraine region; en vino veritas!

Amboise castle cave wines tasting touraine jan22

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 Amboise Val de Loire tourist office on Amboise:  https://www.amboise-valdeloire.co.uk/destination-amboise/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, Hope you have enjoy this post as I

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

Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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