Amboise is a small town in central France, located in the Loire Valley, about 20 km east of Tours. What attracts hundreds of tourists here every year is located in the heart of the city on the banks of the river a majestic medieval castle. Its origins date back to the turn of the 3rd and 4th century CE, when the Merovingians built a fort here, which was the beginning of the castle. During the Middle Ages it was invaded and destroyed by the Normans several times. At the end of the 12th century, the surrounding area along with the stronghold came under the rule of the members of the aristocratic family of d'Amboise. At that time, the construction of the first stronghold began. In 1434, the then King of France - Charles VII of France, confiscated the fortress belonging to Louis d'Amboise and ordered it to be thoroughly expanded. Construction works continued in the time of Louis XI (1423-1483) and later of Charles VIII (1470-1498). At that time, among others south wing, as well as two towers: Tour de Minimes and Tour Hurtault. Eventually, a magnificent Gothic-Renaissance royal residence of the palazzo in fortezza type was built here, which also served as defensive functions. For years, the castle of Amboise was the temporary or permanent seat of the Kings of the Valois and Bourbon dynasties. In the absence of the royal couple, he served as a shelter for the "children's garden" of France. Here Karol VIII, Franciszek I and his sister Małgorzata d’Angoulême were born. Here also the children of Henry II and Katarzyna Medycejska were brought up. At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the duchess of Anjou (the mother of the French king Franciszek I) - Ludwika Sabaudzka (1476-1531) lived in the castle for some time. Some time later, the estate declined considerably, which caused that in 1530 the royal family finally left it. Less than a century later, during the reign of Louis XIII, the castle was transformed into a prison. The hard time for Amboise came during the French Revolution, when the residence was completely looted and destroyed. The first conservation works were carried out in the nineteenth century. At that time, the houses surrounding the castle were demolished, opening the view of the tower and the walls of the stronghold. Only two wings have survived from this once impressive building. Despite this, the castle still makes a great impression on visitors. In the summer, the castle often hosts various events and theatrical performances.
Amboise is associated with the famous Italian painter, architect and visionary Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). King Francis I of Valois brought him to the city and offered him the estate of Clos Lucé (Cloux) situated near the royal residence in the castle of Amboise. Leonardo spent the last years of his life here, during which he dealt with the regulation of the Loire River, as well as the development of his own projects. After his death, he was buried in the collegiate church Saint Florentin at the castle of Amboise (destroyed in 1807). The painter's alleged remains were found in 1874 and transferred to the castle chapel of St. Hubert.
- In 1560, the so-called Tumult in Amboise, a failed coup attempt organized by Louis de Condé. The purpose of the conspiracy was to take control of young (16-year-old) tuberculosis king Francis II and eliminate the Guiziusze. Tumult in Amboise announced religious wars in France.
