The château of Amboise sits on a rocky spur above the Loire, and for much of the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries it was the seat of the French court. Charles VIII rebuilt it after returning from Italy with a taste for the Renaissance, and François I spent his childhood here. The visit takes in the Gothic Louis XII wing and the Renaissance Charles VIII wing, furnished rooms with Gothic and Renaissance decoration, the Tour des Minimes with its wide ramp built for horses, and the terraces and gardens with wide views across the river. In the grounds stands the Chapelle Saint-Hubert, where a tomb is said to hold the remains of Leonardo da Vinci, who died nearby at Clos Lucé in 1519. The château is less imposing from the inside than Chambord, but its position, its lived-in rooms and the town beneath it make it one of the easiest and most rewarding visits in the valley. Amboise is a short train from Tours, and the château is a short uphill walk from the station and the riverside.
Begin at the Saint-Hubert chapel, where the tomb attributed to Leonardo lies under a simple slab, and take in the carvings of the hunting saint over the doorway. Then walk through the rooms: the Salle des Gardes, the Conseil room where the court met, and the furnished bedrooms. The Tour des Minimes and the Tour Hurtault are the great circular towers, built with spiral ramps wide enough for a horse and carriage to ride up to the terrace, and walking the ramp gives a sense of how the court moved.
The terraces and the garden are the second half of the visit. The view from the ramparts takes in the river, the bridge, the roofs of the old town and the cliffs beyond, and in the early morning the mist on the Loire is worth the climb. The garden is laid out in the Renaissance style, with beds and an orchard, and in spring and summer it is in flower; in November it is quiet, with the colours of autumn and the smell of woodsmoke from the town.
In low season, the château keeps a lunch break in November, roughly from half past twelve to two in the afternoon, and closes on 25 December and 1 January, so plan the visit for the morning or the early afternoon. The visit takes about ninety minutes, and Clos Lucé is a ten to fifteen minute walk away, so the two are easily combined in a day. Get a ticket in advance for weekends and school holidays, and wear shoes you can climb ramps in.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through the royal wings and furnished rooms, the horse-ramp towers, the Saint-Hubert chapel and the terrace gardens.
Best time
Morning, before the November lunch break, or on a clear afternoon for the light over the river.
How long
About an hour and a half, a little longer if you add the gardens and the chapel.
Tips
Check the lunch break in November, wear shoes for the ramps and pair it with Clos Lucé on foot. Tickets can be bought in advance for busy weekends.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-timers who want a royal château they can reach by train from Tours and see in a morning.
- Families
- The ramps and towers appeal to children, though some rooms are small; allow time for the garden.
- Couples
- The terrace over the river, then a walk down into the old town for lunch.
- Pair with
- Clos Lucé, a ten to fifteen minute walk, and a Vouvray or Amboise wine tasting.
- Time needed
- A morning, or half a day with Clos Lucé.
Good questions
Is Leonardo da Vinci really buried at Amboise?+
A tomb in the Saint-Hubert chapel in the grounds is said to hold his remains, and tradition holds that he was buried here after dying at Clos Lucé in 1519. Historians admit the exact identification is uncertain.
What are the November hours?+
In November the château generally opens in the morning, closes for a lunch break from about half past twelve to two, and reopens until the late afternoon. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
How far is it from Amboise station?+
It is a walk of around fifteen minutes from the station, crossing the river and climbing a short hill. Taxis are available at the station.
Can I combine it with Clos Lucé?+
Yes, they are about a ten to fifteen minute walk apart, and combined tickets exist. Plan the château in the morning and Clos Lucé in the afternoon.
Is the château suitable for people with limited mobility?+
Parts of the visit involve ramps, steps and cobbles, and the venue lists specific access guidance. Arrive in good time and ask at the ticket office for the best route.
