Loire Valley

It takes only half an hour to drive the 20-miles road that runs from Blois to Amboise. But that afternoon it seemed to take forever. The sun was finally shining after three days of rain, so we were rushing to finally see the beautiful Château d’Amboise. We had been circling the château for the past two days waiting for the rain to stop, so I wasn’t going to miss this chance.

Château d’Ambroise – First Impressions

As you are approaching Amboise, you’ll see the château on your left hand side, across the Loire River. The first thing that will strike you when you see Chateau d’Amboise is how different it is from the stylish Château de Chenonceau, or the fairytale aspect of Château de Chambord. Surrounde by 10-foot high walls, the castle rises like a somber shadow behind the row of ordinary houses that rest at its foot.

A Brief History of Chateau d’Amboise

Chateau d’Amboise sits on the foundation of an old Gallic fortress. Its strategic position above the Loire River, offered a solid defense against any attackers. The structure that you see today suffered many expansions and alterations since the Count of Anjou erected it in the 11th century.

The Loire Valley’s spectacular scenery, fine wines and amazing châteaux have lured visitors for centuries. Nowhere else in the world can you find such a large number of castles in one area. But beyond their beauty, the chateaux of the Loire Valley are an expression of France’s history. These fortified palaces were in fact the central points around which towns and villages developed during the middle ages.

There are more than 100 châteaux that are open to the public in the Loire Valley. In order to see them all you’d probably need to move into the area, so the challenge that every visitor faces is choosing which castles to see during their visit.

Coming from Paris, the first great site you’ll discover after Orleans is the royal Château de Blois, positioned right in the center of the city of Blois. The town itself is really charming, built on a steep hill with winding pathways and guarded by the tower of the Gothic Blois Cathedral.  Continue Reading