The Royal Château of Amboise: fiefdom of the kings of France
Dominating the city and the Loire, the Château d'Amboise It became a royal residence in 1434. Raised within its walls, Charles VIII was particularly attached to this residence which he modified extensively, launching for example the construction of the sumptuous Saint-Hubert chapel (in which the great Leonardo da Vinci is now buried).
Louis XII continued the work of his predecessor and ceded the estate to Louise of Savoy, who raised her children there. His son became king under the name of Francis I and completed the work of his predecessors, inviting to the castle the Italian painter who would become his master.
Today, the Royal Château of Amboise continues to enrich its beautiful town and attracts nearly 400,000 visitors each year! Will you be one of them in 2026?
Clos Lucé: Leonardo da Vinci's intimate world
Located just 400 meters from Amboise Castle, Clos Lucé It is a unique place. From 1516, it became the French residence of the artist Leonardo da Vinci, whom Francis I could no longer do without. Fascinated by the genius of this man who became like a mentor to him, the king appointed the Italian "First Painter, Engineer, and Architect to the King." Comfortably settled among his students, Leonardo imagined, created, thought, and worked at Clos Lucé until his death on May 5, 1519.
Today, the unmissable Clos Lucé presents the daily life of this exceptional man and the park houses models of his greatest inventions, including the most unusual: this visit is a true immersion into the mind of a genius, a wonderful experience to enjoy with the family!
Château Gaillard: the "most Italian of the Loire Valley châteaux."
Chateau Gaillard It is above all the story of a dream: that of King Charles VIII! Captivated by the wonders he discovered in Italy, the young king returned to France with about twenty artists, determined to found in Amboise a brand new movement which would soon become the French Renaissance!
To this end, he decided to build, not far from the royal castle, a brand new residence, recently rediscovered and restored by its new owner. A scene of major events, Château Gaillard now tells the story of Amboise, the history of France, and presents the very first gardens of the French Renaissance, culminating in the discovery of the impressive orangery of Dom Pacello, the greatest gardener of the 1500s!
Special mention for the Pagoda of Chanteloup!
Three castles for one town, that doesn't seem like enough! Take advantage of your visit to Amboise to go for a stroll around... the Pagoda of Chanteloup, a folly built in 1775 by the Duke of Choiseul in the park of his now-vanished castle.
A monument dedicated to friendship, the Pagoda was built in honor of all those who did not abandon the Duke after his exile from the court of Louis XV. Famous for its beauty and unique architecture, it measures nearly 44 meters high and is surrounded by a park in which it is particularly peaceful to stroll.
