Thursday, July 28, 2011

Amboise on the Loire

Another of the famous and well-visited châteaux in the Loire Valley is the Château d'Amboise. It was one of the royal castles, inhabited by the same king who built Chambord: François the First. It had been a few years since we were inside this one, and we had an opportunity to revisit it when our friends J and C were in town last week.

La Tour des Minimes above the Loire River at Amboise. Click on the picture to crenelate.

This photo features la Tour des Minimes. It's taken from up on one of the terraces of the castle which sits on a bluff about forty meters above the Loire River. The tower encloses an amazing spiral ramp up which horses and carriages could climb from the town below. The self-guided tour of the castle takes visitors partway up the ramp.

The Château d'Amboise is the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci; his tomb is built into the floor of the Chapelle Saint-Hubert on the castle grounds. The chapel was completed in the late fifteenth century by then King Charles VIII. King François the First brought da Vinci to Amboise in 1516 where he lived out his final days. He died here on May 2, 1519.
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9 comments:

  1. Seine Judeet (Judith)28 July, 2011 15:06

    Wonderful photo!

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  2. French Girl in Seattle28 July, 2011 17:23

    I never visited Amboise while I lived in France. One day, one day... Merci taking us there! Veronique aka French Girl in Seattle

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  3. Writer28 July, 2011 18:01

    Lovely photo. I learn something new with your every post. (I assumed da Vinci was in Italy still.)

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  4. Cubby28 July, 2011 19:06

    Your photography always impresses me, but this photo in particular I thought was great. I can't put my finger on why exactly. Maybe it's just the depth, but I love it.

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  5. Mary28 July, 2011 21:01

    We arrived in Amboise too late for the interior tour - but we enjoyed the little village for dinner and night-time views of the Chateau. The waiter kept telling us Da Vinci and then pointing to the tower! I don't think we were convincing him that we knew Da Vinci was buried there...

    Your photo view is different from any we saw. Where were you standing, Walt?

    Mary in Oregon

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  6. Mary28 July, 2011 21:04

    I didn't reread your statement, Walt... Stupido...You told me where you took the photo. Je suis désole.

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  7. Ur-spo29 July, 2011 05:38

    It's good to be King.

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  8. wcs29 July, 2011 09:42

    judy, thanks!

    vero, ça vaut bien le voyage.

    writer, cool!

    cubby, glad you like it. :)

    mary, I think I was on what they call the Tour des Garçonnets.

    michael, yup. Until they chop your head off...

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  9. lulu from Delmar29 July, 2011 14:01

    I didn't know Da Vinci was buried there. It is interesting where we ultimately end up! (or down in most cases)

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