Amboise, another Loire Treasure

Amboise is the fourth or fifth European campground we have stayed in that is located on an island in the middle of river. About an equal number of other sites have been situated on river banks. In the case of Amboise, L'Ile d'Or is about 1-1/4 miles long and a fifth of a mile wide at the center, and the land primarily consists of recreation space and the campground. One supposes that all of these situations are prone to serious and dangerous flooding and are thus reserved for non-essential and easily evacuated use. Certainly they provide attractive and quiet retreats.

The Chateau d’Amboise is one of the more historically significant buildings in France, perhaps even in Europe. Louis XI lived there, Charles VIII was born there and also died there, Francois I was raised there as were all ten children of Catherine de Medici. In 1560, the failed Huguenot plot against Francois II was mounted there and Leonardo da Vinci is buried in the Chapel of St Hubert built on the ramparts. The original entry tower, the Tour des Minimes, houses a spiral ramp large enough for horsemen to ride up to make deliveries. The entire historic area has been splendidly restored and makes for a high quality visit. We had a nice walkabout, click here for more pictures.