The garden of the Royal Château of Amboise A lush Renaissance setting in the heart of the Loire Valley

From waves of topiary boxwood to Mediterranean plants, via the Oriental garden, let yourself be carried away by this regal stroll where nature and history intertwine. Welcome to the gardens of the Royal Château of Amboise!

The Royal History of the Gardens of Amboise

Charles VIII, fascinated by the wonders he had discovered during his campaign in Naples, brought Dom Pacello da Mercogliano back with him in 1496. The Neapolitan gardener then created the first Italian-style garden in the Kingdom of France on the terrace in Naples. It was a revolution in landscaping. François I continued this transformation, adding geometric flowerbeds and Mediterranean plants.

The centuries passed, shaping these royal gardens. In 2017, a major restoration brought the original 15th-century designs back to life. The trimmed boxwoods and aromatic plants now tell the story of this extraordinary botanical adventure that marked the dawn of the French Renaissance.

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Chateau Royal Amboise Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2028 2
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Jean-Christophe COUTAND

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A Renaissance balcony overlooking the Loire

Climb the majestic Tour des Minimes to reach this open-air theatre suspended between heaven and earth. In the Council Chamber, the mullioned windows open out onto a breathtaking landscape where birdsong mingles with the rustling of the foliage. The second floor, fitted out under Louis-Philippe in the 19th century, offers a unique view of the terraced gardens and the town of Amboise nestled at the foot of the château.

Take advantage of the combined ticket packages featuring the Clos Lucé and the Château de Chenonceau

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The Naples Terrace, an Italian gem

Beneath your feet, the rectangular flowerbeds of the Naples Terrace tell the story of France’s first Italian-style garden. The terracotta pots, crafted in Tuscany, divide the space into geometric compartments where blue catmint and white roses intermingle. Century-old lime trees line this royal balcony, whilst three viewing points open majestically onto the Loire. At the heart of this verdant setting, the waves of trimmed boxwood perpetuate the art of garden design conceived by Dom Pacello da Mercogliano for Charles VIII.

The Jardin d’Orient and the Montée Abd el Kader

Walk up the Abd el-Kader Hill, this historic route leading to the château which bears witness to a little-known chapter in the history of Amboise. Backing onto the Jardin de Naples, this path winds through a verdant amphitheatre of boxwood topiaries, vine stocks and cypress trees. A little further on, offering a lovely view of the town, the Oriental Garden was laid out in memory of Emir Abd el-Kader, who was imprisoned in Amboise between 1848 and 1852 as part of the resistance to French colonisation of Algeria. This lovely stroll through the garden also takes on a historical dimension.

A natural haven in the heart of Amboise

On a day-to-day basis, the château’s team of gardeners takes great care in managing the grounds. Whilst the Mediterranean plant species are a reminder of the Italian influence here, they also have the advantage of being low-water plants. At night, lighting is kept to a minimum so as not to encourage the spread of the box tree moth, which is particularly attracted to light: prevention is better than cure. Naturally, the use of pesticides or chemical fertilisers is strictly prohibited, and most of the lawnmowers and hedge trimmers are electric.

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Chateau Royal Amboise Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2028 3 1
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Jean-Christophe COUTAND

In a nutshell

A Renaissance balcony overlooking the Loire

Panoramic terraces, sculpted boxwood, breathtaking views

A sustainable garden and a living sanctuary

Bees, birds, ecological management and respect for biodiversity

A stroll through history and the exotic

Terrace of Naples and a tribute to Abd el-Kader

To happiness bees and birds

Making the most of its unspoilt surroundings, the Royal Château of Amboise has installed beehives in the moat. The bees forage, pollinate the area and even produce honey, which is available in the shop.

As for the birds, no fewer than 83 species have been recorded. The castle walls provide cosy shelters and the organic garden supplies the insects. In this bird sanctuary , listed by the League for the Protection of Birds, you can spot redstarts (with their very distinctive ‘bip-bip’ call!), wood pigeons, swifts, great cormorants and even little egrets.

To specifically accommodate swallows, nesting boxes and artificial nests have also been installed in various parts of the garden. There’s no doubt that the Royal Château of Amboise attracts a great many visitors!