Chateau Amboise

The second chateau we visited was Amboise. It has a nice, dramatic entrance.

Here is the lovely St. Hubert Chapel. I absolutely adore the strangely architectural trees that flank the chapel door. 

This little chapel was packed with detail. 

But the chapel's claim to fame is it now serves as the burial place for Leonardo da Vinci. I had no idea this Italian painter lived and died in France until my chateau tour. Francois the I brought him to France in 1516, he died three years later in 1519. He brought three of his works of art with him from Italy, the Mona Lisa, Saint Anne and the Virgin, and Saint John the Baptist.

Not much remains of this chateau which was the scene of much political power starting from the Celts and Romans.

The chateau sits at a strategic location on the Loire River.

The town built up against the chateau walls.

Sadly, only one building remains of the living quarters.

The interior as it was for Charles the VIII. Here is the state room of the royal apartments.

I was surprised at how well the fireplace was heating one side of hall. The basket holding the wood was so large...not something a person could pick up and carry when full of wood. I would love to have that basket of wood by my Alaska fireplace.

What is left of this chateau has been restored...you can see the pieces of new stone added to the facade with the old. 

Inside a few rooms are set up with furniture. Here a bedroom in Renaissance decor. 

Another Renaissance motif, the cupbearer's room. This chateau had much more intimate spaces than the hunting lodge at Chambord.

Dramatic chinaware.

Royalty lived at the chateau throughout the centuries. Here is a room more in the style of Louis Philippe, France's king 1830 to 1848.

We had such dramatic clouds for our visit. Here is a sprawling Lebanese Cedar

At one time this chateau boasted a garden of Italian design at the direction of Catherine de Medicis.

This chateau is available for weddings and honeymoons.