Amboise Things to Do

This small chapel is dedicated to Saint–Hubert ,saint patron of the hunters. Built by Charles VIII for the private use of the Royal family its Flamboyant gothic style make of it a little stone jewel. Its fame is due to Leonardo da Vinci`s tomb who died in Amboise in 2 may 1519.

Waking along the old railing used by the guards, you will arrive at the castle’s terraces. The view is great: the Loire, the walls, the castle and its gardens and…the town.
Both wings of the castle set out the transition between gothic and renaissance style.
The interior often disappoints its visitors but its rich and bloody past gives it an haunted aura.

This small chapel was built in the late 15th C on the foundations of an earlier oratory. Its main claim to fame now is that it houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. It is not overly impressive inside, but I found the outside quite stunning. The chapel is dedicated to St. Hubert, patron saint of hunting. The photo is of a carving above the entrance which I found very appealing its intricate detail of the hunt.

This is a fine example of the Loire chateaux with multiple ornate rooms filled with wonderful decor, royal portraits, tapestries and furnishings. The gardens and grounds are wonderful and offer great views over the city and the Loire.

I guess this was an escape for Leonardo as he seems to have left the vibrant Eternal City for this quiet and peaceful place in the Loire Valley. It is a well preserved atmosphere in which he pursued his work and where he died. It gives one a good sense of the everyday life he lived here and the house is filled with beautiful furnishings, tapestries and art. Of course, the lower floor is filled with his sketches and many of his inventions are on display thanks to models made from those sketches by IBM. This room also has the entrance to a secret passage purportedly leading to the Royal Chateau which Francois I used to visit da Vinci.

Just a short walk up through the town, past the massive heights of the Chateau d'Amboise and you will find the quiter, although just as packed by tourists in summer, Clos Lucý.

Home to the great mind Michaelangelo until his death. The house contains some of his drawings and models and more recently, replicas have been made from his drawings such as the hang-glider, helicopter and tank!

Well worth the walk and the small entrance fee to view such greatness.

Amboise is a lovely medieval town along the Loire River. Of course the castle is the main draw, but if you walk around the town of Amboise you see varied and awesome views of the castle. These views I've only seen on postcards as our mini-van tour only stopped AT the castle. The city has grown throughout the 20th century with the installation of new companies and different urbanization projects. Today, the city has about 12,000 inhabitants

There is a guided walk in the city of Amboise with a famous character. You will experience the history of the place inspired by kings and artists such as Francois I or Leonardo da Vinci. You will be fascinated by the Renaissance period, its life and its architectural style. Visit the tourist office listed below to book your reservation.

Clos Luce is in Amboise near Chateau d'Amboise and it is where da Vinci lived out the remaining three years of his life. His bed upon which he died is on display.

The 15th century manor was given to Leonardo da Vinci by François I. The painter, engineer and inventor moved there in 1516 to work on the reconstruction of the Château d'Amboise and perhaps at Chambord. His last project was the digging canals connecting the different chateaux in the Loire by placing dams and locks on the river. Not only was this man an artist and inventor, but a great engineer.