Next stop:
Amboise! Of the cities I've visited, Amboise is one of my favorites, even though we weren't there very long at all. It's a beautiful town on the Loire River, and I just really liked the ambiance when we were walking around downtown. There are a ton of little shops and quiet (but not completely deserted this time) pedestrian streets. Plus Leonardo da Vinci used to live there! :O
After coming back from Chenonceau and checking in to our hotel, we went downtown and walked around for a while. I bought some postcards, and we got crepes for dinner. The next morning, we decided to squeeze in the
Château d'Amboise, where the king of France used to live until some crazy conspiracy happenings in the 1560's. In 1516, the king invited Leonardo da Vinci to come live in Clos Lucé, which is a manor connected to the castle by underground passageways. Da Vinci lived there for the last few years of his life and is buried in the Chapel Saint-Hubert, which is next to the castle. Allegedly buried anyways; there's some debate. (More conspiracies!)
The Château d'Amboise is smaller than Chenonceau, but just as pretty. We went so early the sun was still rising, and the lighting was breathtaking! The château is up on a hillside, and we spent a long time just looking out across the town and the river glowing in orange and pink light.
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| There's the château! |
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| Gargoyles! |
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| View from the château out across Amboise |
Inside, the château is similar to Chenonceau, with the old furniture set up and lots of tapestries on the walls. More mentions of Leonardo da Vinci though; that's clearly its big claim to fame. We did a pretty quick tour because we had to drive to Chartres and then to Paris to drop off the car before 5 that day.
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| Leonardo da Vinci's tomb |
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| Leo D. himself! |
À bientôt!
Next stop: Amboise! Of the cities I've visited, Amboise is one of my favorites, even though we weren't there very long at all. It's a beautiful town on the Loire River, and I just really liked the ambiance when we were walking around downtown. There are a ton of little shops and quiet (but not completely deserted this time) pedestrian streets. Plus Leonardo da Vinci used to live there! :O
After coming back from Chenonceau and checking in to our hotel, we went downtown and walked around for a while. I bought some postcards, and we got crepes for dinner. The next morning, we decided to squeeze in the Château d'Amboise, where the king of France used to live until some crazy conspiracy happenings in the 1560's. In 1516, the king invited Leonardo da Vinci to come live in Clos Lucé, which is a manor connected to the castle by underground passageways. Da Vinci lived there for the last few years of his life and is buried in the Chapel Saint-Hubert, which is next to the castle. Allegedly buried anyways; there's some debate. (More conspiracies!)
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