Chambord, Chenonceau & Amboise Castles

Château Chenonceau

Picture an elegant white castle built on the piers of an old mill in the Loire Valley region. That is what the Chenonceau castle is in real life! Often referred to as the “Ladies’ Château” because of the notorious women who built and maintained it throughout the centuries, Chenonceau boasts a fascinating royal history that dates back to the 13th century. Stroll through the castles’ rooms and admire the exquisite tapestries, paintings, and furniture. See the guard’s room, the Chapel with its stunning stained glass windows, and the royal bedrooms, study, library, and kitchens. The gallery has a magnificent ballroom with 18 floor-to-ceiling windows and a slate-tile floor. Don't miss out on walking through the extensive royal gardens alongside the Cher river, featuring a maze, a 16th-century farm, a carriage gallery, and a vegetable and flower garden.

Château de Chambord

King François I built the Château de Chambord after his victory in the Battle of Marignan in 1515. It was constructed not as a residence, but as the symbol of his power and the French Renaissance. The castle is located inside an enormous park of 5,000 hectares and contains about 400 rooms, over 80 staircases, 365 fireplaces, and plenty of towers, high ceilings, and pointed domes. A major highlight of your visit here would be the famous double helix staircase. Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, the open staircase is designed in a way that you can go up one side without meeting or making eye contact with someone who is descending on the other side! Your ticket also gives you access to more than 60 rooms open to the public and to temporary exhibitions (according to the cultural program of the time). Moreover, you can explore the castle's grand gardens, home to a vivid range of flora and fauna, at your own pace.

Château Royal d'Amboise

Skip the long ticket lines and gain direct entry to the Amboise Castle, where you can see for yourself the lifestyles and secrets of the French court! Learn about the kings who reigned from the castle at the dawn of the Renaissance and see first-hand how extravagant their lives were by admiring the extensive collection of Gothic and Renaissance furniture within the castle. One of the most notable guests at the Amboise Castle was Leonardo da Vinci, who you can pay respects to in the castle’s chapel, where he lies to rest. You can also use the HistoPad© to rediscover, in situ, spaces that have now disappeared and to immerse yourself in historical atmospheres: royal audiences and banquets, the seat of the ramparts and battle, construction sites, diving into the jails...the journey is open to all! End your visit with a walk in the sublime gardens, classified as "Remarkable Gardens" in 2017.