The garden of the royal chateau of Amboise – Touraine Val de Loire The gardens of the Royal Château d’Amboise

The royal history of the gardens of Amboise

Charles VIII, fascinated by the wonders discovered during his campaign in Naples, brought back Dom Pacello da Mercogliano in 1496. The Neapolitan gardener then created on the terrace of Naples the first Italian-style garden in the kingdom of France. A landscape revolution. Francis I continued this metamorphosis, adding geometric parterres and Mediterranean species.

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

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

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A Renaissance balcony overlooking the Loire

Grace the majestic Tour des Minimes to access this theatre of greenery suspended between heaven and earth. In theCouncil Chamber, the mullioned windows open onto a breathtaking landscape where birdsong and rustling foliage mingle. The second floor, fitted out under Louis-Philippe in the 19th century, offers a unique perspective on the terraced gardens and the town of Amboise nestling at the foot of the château.

Take advantage of combined ticket packages with Clos Lucé / Château de Chenonceau

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The Terrace of Naples, an Italian jewel

Following in your footsteps, the rectangular flowerbeds of the Terrace of Naples tell the story of France’s first Italian-style garden. Terracotta pots,shaped in Tuscany, punctuate the space in geometric compartments where blue nepetas and white roses mingle. Hundred-year-old lime trees line this royal balcony, while three belvederes open out majestically onto the Loire. At the heart of this green setting, waves of pruned boxwood perpetuate the art of gardens imagined by Dom Pacello da Mercogliano for Charles VIII.

Le jardin d’Orient et la montée Abd el Kader

Take la montée Abd el Kader, this historic path leading to the château that bears witness to a little-known page in Amboise’s history. Backing onto the Jardin de Naples, this path crosses a green amphitheatre made up of boxwood balls, vine stocks and cypress trees. A little further on and offering a lovely view over the town, the Jardin d’Orient was erected in memory of Emir Abd el-Kader, a prisoner in Amboise from 1848 and 1852 as part of the resistance to French colonisation of Algeria. A walk through the beautiful garden also takes on a historical dimension.

A natural refuge in the heart of Amboise

On a daily basis, the château’s gardening team is particularly vigilant in the management of the grounds. While Mediterranean species are a reminder of the Italian influence in these parts, they also have the advantage of being low water guzzlers. At night, lighting is limited so as not to encourage the development of the box tree borer, which is particularly fond of light: prevention is better than cure. , and most mowers and hedge trimmers are electric.

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

In a nutshell

A Renaissance balcony overlooking the Loire

Panoramic terraces, sculpted boxwood, breathtaking views

A sustainable garden and living refuge

Bees, birds, ecological management and respect for biodiversity

A walk through history and exoticism

Terrace in Naples and tribute to Abd el-Kader

Happiness bees and birds

Building on its preserved environment, the Royal Château of Amboise has installed beehives in the moat. They gather pollen and even produce the honey you’ll find in the shop.

As for the birds, no fewer than 83 species have been recorded. The walls provide comfortable shelter and the organic garden provides insects. In this bird sanctuary listed by the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux, you’ll come across redstarts (with their distinctive “beep-beep”!), goshawks, swifts, great cormorants and little egrets.

To cater specifically for swallows, nest boxes and artificial nests have also been installed in various parts of the garden. It’s clear that the Royal Château of Amboise is a popular destination for many visitors!