Amboise is one of the towns of the Val de Loire region with the most ancient history because of its special geographic location at the Loire River. Amboise stands out as one of the very first human settlements along the historic river layout, largely due to the fact that the Loire River was significantly easier to be crossed here than at other surrounding geographic points.
The settlement is recognized internationally as an exceptional Royal town, serving as home to one of the biggest royal castles in the region. Its deep cultural heritage was further elevated in 1516, when King François I invited the legendary Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci to the town. Da Vinci resided nearby in the Clos-Lucé manor until his death in 1519.
Today, the town maintains a permanent population of about 12,000 inhabitants and preserves an exceptionally charming medieval and historical atmosphere within the modern landscape.
author: Boštjan Burger