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Discover the must-see Loire Valley castles in France by campervan, car, or independently, guided by the amazing Instagram family @xirivica . A journey that will captivate you through their travelogue of France's most elegant and breathtaking castles.
The route of France Castles of the Loire essential by 9 castles
Castles of the Loire map
The route of the 9 essential castles of the Loire France
The Castle where Leonardo Da Vinci is buried: Amboise Castle on the French route Castles of the Loire
Some previous tips for visiting the Château de Amboise and for the route of France Castles of the Loire essential
- To see the castles well: Never forget the grounds, they are wonderful. And remember, if you want to visit the Inside the Castles reserve 2 hours.
- Doing the Loire castles with children: Ask for information about the childish games that hide many of the castles, enliven the visit of the little ones.
- If you carry bikes: Find information about the bike lanes to visit the area, they are beautiful, and will make the whole family enjoy.
- The route of the Loire castles by motorhome or camper: Make use of motorhome services whenever there is availability, you will not always find an area in the area to visit, although all the castles are very close.
Our visit to the Château de Amboise, one of France's essential Loire castles
Parking and getting to Amboise
At noon we headed to AMBOISE castle located in the center of the town that bears the same name. Upon arrival, the AC Area was closed, presumably due to construction work and we decided to enter the campsite next to the area. The camping is not bad, price of camping with the right to a plot that rather looked like a piece of countryside, but it was not bad to spend the afternoon and visit the town and the castle. The castle is visible from the campsite and practically from anywhere on the other side of the river. It rises majestically in the center of the town crowning him just as king receives his crown.
We unloaded the bikes and started the pedals in the direction of the Chateau. Upon arrival we saw several sections of bike lane and it seemed more than acceptable for the little one and here we go.
A little history about the Château de Amboise
In our humble opinion and on the basis that our knowledge of history is limited; The most relevant thing about this castle is that it was the first Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley and it was thus led by Leonardo Da Vinci, a personal friend of King Francisco I.
This castle occupies a special place in the history of France. It was the favorite residence of kings and the nursery of infants. Through its stays of the first renaissance, this castle saw countless illustrious guests pass by who would leave their mark on it forever. The immortal imprint of Leonardo Da Vinci is breathed through each of its corners. The illustrious painter, architect, inventor, engineer ……. It was so influential for Francisco I that he allowed him to be buried there in 1519
Leonardo Da Vinci at Amboise Castle
Leonardo Da Vinci arrived in Amboise at the hand of the king in 1516 when he was 64 years old and with a well-known career in Italy. Leonardo devoted his time to drawing and teaching. In 1519 Da Vinci dictated in his will his wish was to be buried in the Saint Florentin Church in Amboise and for his body to be carried by its chaplains. At his death on May 2, 1519, his body was buried following his will. The mentioned church was demolished between 1806 and 1810 and later in 1863, through excavations the remains of the illustrious Da Vinci were located and transferred to the Chapel of Saint Hubert within the confines of the Amboise castle itself.
For the rest, the interior of the castle is not of special interest given what has been seen. The landscaped garden has a certain interest in the flora it has housed in recent years: holm oaks, cypresses and muscat vines as a nod to the Italian influence.
Amboise castle by motorhome: overnight stay and services
AMBOISE CASTLE BY MOTORHOME, WHERE TO STAY AND PARK:
The Amboise motorhome area is located in the l'ILLE D'OR area. In our case we cannot give our opinion since it was closed for works. We spend the night at the campsite that is right next to it and has the same name as the area (L'ILLE D'OR). Spacious and flat plots, with all services. It is worth visiting the village and going to the castle by bike.
