The Castles of Amboise

Begin at the Royal Castle of Amboise, perched high above the Loire, where Renaissance kings once held court and Leonardo da Vinci's presumed remains rest in the delicate Chapelle Saint-Hubert just steps away. Cross the bridge to the Golden Island for a peaceful stroll along plane-tree promenades with views back toward the castle ramparts, then return through the old town past the Gothic Church of Saint-Florentin — now a free exhibition space with striking postwar stained glass by Max Ingrand — and under the medieval Clock Tower arch on Rue Nationale. The afternoon belongs to two remarkable estates: the Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo spent his final years surrounded by his inventions and a park full of life-size working machines, and the Royal Domain of Château Gaillard, birthplace of the French Renaissance garden with its 300-tree citrus orangery. Château Gaillard is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and booking tickets online for the Royal Castle and Clos Lucé is strongly recommended during peak season.