Amboise Tourist Attractions
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The old town of Amboise lies 25km/15mi east of Tours on the left bank of the Loire, which here flows around the long, narrow Ile St-Jean. To the south, between the Loire and the Cher, extends a large area of forest.The town, recorded in Roman and Merovingian times under the name of Vicus Ambaciensis, passed from the control of the French kings into the hands of the Counts of Anjou, and from the 12th century until 1431 it was the seat of the Anjou family. When Louis d'Amboise fell into disfavor with King Charles VII, however, the town was confiscated by the crown. Thereafter the Château was enlarged and sumptuously decorated as befitted a royal residence. Leonardo da Vinci died here in 1519. In 1560, in the Conspiracy of Amboise, a group of Huguenots called for freedom of worship and tried to counter the influence of the Catholic family of Guise on King Francis II. The plot miscarried and the conspirators were ruthlessly punished; it is said that 1,200 of their supporters were hanged from the iron railings on the balcony of the Château. In 1563, however, the Edict of Amboise granted the Huguenots limited freedom of worship.
Amboise Château
What remains today of the Amboise Château is just a small part of the original building. Towers flank the facade which displays a balcony with iron railings.
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Chapelle St Hubert
The Chapelle St-Hubert in Amboise, which stands on the curtain wall, was built around 1491 by Charles VIII and his wife Anne de Bretagne. It is a fine example of Gothic architecture. On the doorway is a relief representation of the legend of St Hubert, and in the tympanum is a 19th C figure of the Virgin flanked by Charles and Anne. The roof and roof turrets were restored in the 19th C. In the left-hand transept is a tablet commemorating Leonardo da Vinci, who is believed to have been buried here.
Lower Town
In the lower town is the 16th century Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), which houses a small museum (manuscripts, pictures, etc). Opposite the museum is the 15th century church of St-Florentin, with a Renaissance steeple. On the Loire embankment is an unusual fountain (1968) by Max Ernst, who lived for many years in France.
St Denis
The church of St-Denis, on the outskirts of the town of Amboise to the southeast, is a fine example of Romanesque architecture with Angevin features. It has finely decorated capitals and contains the marble tomb (16th century) with what is said to be a likeness of "la belle Babou", a mistress of Francis I. In the Forêt d'Amboise, a former hunting reserve of the French kings to the south of the town, is the 44m/144ft high Pagode de Chanteloup, built in the late 18th century - all that remains of a large Baroque Château which was built in 1715 but later demolished and used as rubble.
Parc de la Pagode de Chanteloup
The sole remaining part of this garden is a charming chinoiserie pagoda.
Map - Amboise Château
