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Bucket list experience:

Side view of the chateau from the river

Last updated: 10 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Anna Brooke

Poised imposingly above the Loire River, Amboise today may be only a fraction of its original size, but it still gives the feel of a royal residence.

First constructed under the reign of Charles VIII in the late 15th century, it became a favoured place of residence for French kings and queens from then on until the 19th century. The website lists the long list of illustrious guests and their biographies that stayed here.

Today you can wander from vaulted medieval guardrooms with suits of armour to tapestry-hung halls, to the red silks and mahogany of Restoration monarch Louis-Philippe. Interactive multi-media exhibits and audio guides in English on iPads bring the castle’s history to life. The occasional balcony or roofs offer panoramic views across the region fit for a king.

Don’t miss

The tiny vaulted Gothic chapel contains the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the last years of his life in the nearby Clos Luce.

Price from: £12
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Amboise can be reached by local train. The chateau is a 15-minute walk from the station, across the river.

There are interactive multi-media exhibits and audio guides in English on iPads that bring the castle’s history to life.

In the summer months, there are special behind-the-scenes guided tours of Amboise’s towers and maze of underground tunnels that survive from the medieval fortress beneath the Renaissance residence.

When to do it

The chateau is open all year round, seven days a week.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Loire Valley Day from Amboise : Azay le Rideau, Villandry and 2 Vouvray Wineries

Loire Valley Day from Amboise : Azay le Rideau, Villandry and 2 Vouvray Wineries

Tours

Enjoy a complete discovery of Loire Valley with the visit of must-see Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry castle and its remarkable gardens. Benefi...

€176 | Rating 5 / 5 [16 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Day tour of Chateaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Da Vinci Clos Lucé & Caves Ambacia

Day tour of Chateaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Da Vinci Clos Lucé & Caves Ambacia

Tours

Enjoy a small group day tour in the heart of the Royal Valley: tour three of the major chateaux of the region and taste some of the excellen...

€215 | Rating 4.76 / 5 [13 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Loire Valley Castles VIP Private Tour: Chambord, Chenonceaux, Amboise

Loire Valley Castles VIP Private Tour: Chambord, Chenonceaux, Amboise

Loire Valley

Take away the hassle out of planning your day trip to the Loire Valley, the birthplace of French Renaissance with more 120 châteaux (estates...

€750 | Rating 4.9 / 5 [20 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

La Demeure de La Vignole

Turquant, Pays de la Loire, France[21.7 miles]

This quirky, rustic-chic hotel in a troglodyte hamlet has a cave pool and makes a good base for sightseeing.

Official star rating:

La Marine de la Loire

Montsoreau, Pays de la Loire, France[22.5 miles]

Gorgeous designer boutique hotel and spa, located in a tranquil village right by the River Loire.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

A day in Saumur

Saumur, Pays de la Loire, France[17.8 miles]

A postcard-perfect, medieval town famed for its troglodyte wine cellars (filled with excellent wines) and majestic hilltop chateau.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Overview >

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

stall selling bric-a-brac at the weekend flea market in the city center.
Experience

Montsoreau Flea Market

Montsoreau, Pays de la Loire, France[22.5 miles]

Seek out bargains at this riverside fleamarket held on the second Sunday of each month at Montsoreau. Old books, trinkets, lace, furniture and more.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Overview >