Amboise
Amboise - a charming town right on the Loire River. We chose this for our background photo because it gives such a nice overview of the town. It was our home for two days while we explored the Loire Valley. We had a fantastic group dinner in the hotel restaurant, and even had time to explore other wonderful restaurants the next day, in between castle visits.
This town had so much to offer! Just the town itself was a lovely place to wander.
Our hotel room at Le Belle-Vue. Very nice.
Clos Luce
Francois I, the 16th century king who began the construction of Chambord Castle, fell in love with the Italian Renaissance while waging war in Italy. He invited Leonardo da Vinci to come live in Amboise and installed him in this magnificent home, near his own home in the Royal Amboise Castle. Da Vinci lived here for 3 years, until his death in 1519.
The exterior of Clos Luce, with our group waiting to enter.
The Royal Castle of Amboise
This castle grew from the fortifications originally built by Celtic people in the 4th century. It was home to an impressive list of kings. Francois I was responsible for many of the Renaissance touches that were added. It truly is an impressive castle with gorgeous rooms and surrounded by an extensive parkland.
The "Royal Lodge"
Hint: We've all heard that French people can be very rude and unfriendly. We found that our being polite was universally met with politeness - a simple "bonjour!" when you first enter a shop or when the waiter approaches your table did wonders. An appropriately timed "s'il vous plait" (please) or "merci" (thank you) worked wonders, too.
Hint: Be prepared for the possibility of rain. We each had an umbrella and a rain jacket. The weather on our trip was pretty wonderful, but we did have a day or two of light drizzle - we managed to stay nice and dry with our gear.