Amboise is a medieval town that straddles the Loire River on the west end of the valley, just a little bit east of Tours. Today it is a small market town, but it was once the home of the French royal court.
Founded in year 500, it is known for several historical facts including it being the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, for much of her early life, being raised in Amboise at the French court of Henry II.
She arrived in France from Scotland in 1548, aged six, and remained in France until 1561, when she returned to her homeland – sailing up the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh.
Skipping through a lot of history…Mary was the first cousin, once removed, of Queen Elizabeth I. Mary had once claimed Elizabeth’s throne as her own and was considered the legitimate sovereign of England by many English Catholics, including participants in a rebellion known as the Rising of the North. Perceiving Mary as a threat, Elizabeth had her confined in various castles and manor houses in the interior of England. After eighteen and a half years in custody, Mary was found guilty of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth in 1586, and was later beheaded. Today we know her best as “Bloody Mary”.
While interesting, probably the most important historical fact about Amboise is that it is where you will find the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. He was hosted in Amboise by King Francis I, whose arms he died in back in 1519.
On the grounds of the chateau you will find a small chapel and inside that chapel is da Vinci.
So fantastic to be standing near the grave of such a great man! Revered for his technological ingenuity, he conceptualized flying machines, a type of armored fighting vehicle, concentrated solar power, an adding machine, and the double-hulled sailing ship. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or even feasible during his lifetime, as the modern scientific approaches to metallurgy and engineering were only in their infancy during the Renaissance.
The chateau itself is very impressive and it looms over the small town.
Amboise is known for its medievel timber homes that surround the castle in the old village.
The view of the valley from the chateau is incredible!
if you’re in this area of the Loire Valley, make sure you stop at Amboise. See the chateau, have a nice lunch. You won’t regret it!
Oh yeah, what would August in France be without a little French lavender?
Go!
2 comments
Gorgeous. Happy to see you guys traveling again.
I can almost smell the lavender! So cool to see da Vinci’s grave
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