Amboise
A town on the Loire River known for its royal château and Clos Lucé, the house where Leonardo da Vinci died.
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Amboise is a town on the Loire River in central France, a short train ride from Tours. Its château was a royal residence, built on a rocky spur above the river, and it is the main reason to visit. Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years at Clos Lucé, a manor house a short walk from the château, and died there in 1519. From the town you can reach Chenonceau by bike or car, and the surrounding Loire wine country is an easy add-on.
Amboise suits a slow trip built around the Loire Valley's châteaux, with one or two nights. The streets and river paths are easy on foot, and one day covers the château and Clos Lucé at a relaxed pace. Spring and early fall are the most comfortable months for walking and cycling, while summer brings the most visitors. Stay at least one night if you want evenings in town. If you only want the château, a day trip from Tours works.
Amboise in five
- Take the train to Saint-Pierre-des-CorpsFrom Paris, a TGV reaches Saint-Pierre-des-Corps near Tours in about an hour, then a regional train runs to Amboise in around 15–20 minutes. Book the TGV early and use TER fares for the last leg.Getting around France
- Buy château tickets from the official sitesThe Château Royal and Clos Lucé each sell online tickets, and queues build in summer. Check each page for hours and any combined ticket before you plan the day.Loire Valley
- Hire a bike or a guided van for ChenonceauChenonceau is about 10 km east and Chambord is farther north. A bike, taxi or small-group minivan avoids needing a car, and a tour handles the timing of the three big châteaux.
- Sleep in town for early lightDay-trippers thin out by late afternoon. A night near the river gives you an empty château terrace at opening time and a table without a queue.
- Pair with Blois or AngersBlois is a short train ride north-east, and Angers marks the western end of the valley. Choose one extra stop instead of rushing five châteaux.Blois
Need to know
- Airport
- Paris (CDG or ORY) or Tours (TUF), about 45 min by road
- Getting there
- TGV to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, then TER about 15–20 min
- Getting around
- Walking in town; bikes or a taxi for Chenonceau
- Best base
- Old town near the river and château
- Time needed
- 1 long day, or 2 with Chenonceau
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Spring startsMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Gardens bloomAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Gardens bloom
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Green, busyMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, busy
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Hot, crowdedJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Hot, crowdedAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Soft lightSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Soft light
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Grey, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Grey, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Christmas lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas lights
Average daily high and low in Amboise, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Amboise
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Amboise
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°4°8%Monday: Rain. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue11°5°5%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed11°2°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu14°4°15%Thursday: Rain. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Fri14°5°20%Friday: Fog. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sat11°3°14%Saturday: Fog. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sun11°2°38%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 38%.
Updated 09:39 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Chenonceauabout 10 min by car, longer by bikeThe château over the river Cher, with formal gardens.
- Bloisabout 20 min by trainA larger château town with an easy rail link to Paris.Read the guide
- Angersabout 1 hour by train via Saint-Pierre-des-CorpsA castle city that suits the western valley.Read the guide
Before you go to Amboise
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Rules for Amboise, checked
- Whether you need a Schengen visa depends on your passport. Check france-visas.gouv.fr before you book.Source
- Meat, dairy and some plant products from outside the EU are restricted at the border. Check douane.gouv.fr before you pack food.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance. In France, 17 reaches the police and 15 reaches SAMU medical emergencies.
- Service is included by law in French restaurant bills. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is the usual custom.
Plan around Amboise
Paris and the regions, with the basics
Read the guideLoire ValleyChâteaux, wine and cycling the whole valley
Read the guideBloisRoyal château and a bigger town base
Read the guideAngersThe Apocalypse Tapestry and Anjou wine
Read the guideETIAS timelineWhen the EU travel authorization starts
Read the guideAmboise FAQ
Is Amboise worth visiting?
Yes. It is compact, on the river and close to the biggest châteaux, with Leonardo da Vinci's last home in the town. It suits travelers without a car more than Chambord's or Chenonceau's remote settings.
How do you get from Paris to Amboise?
Take a TGV from Montparnasse to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps in about an hour, then a regional train of roughly 15–20 minutes to Amboise. Book the TGV early because fares rise as seats sell.
Can you visit Amboise as a day trip from Paris?
Yes, but it is a long day. You get the château and Clos Lucé, then head back by evening. Stay a night to add Chenonceau without rushing the TGV.
Can you see Chenonceau from Amboise without a car?
Yes by bike, taxi or a small-group tour. Chenonceau also has its own train stop on the Tours line, so you can reach it from Tours by rail and connect with Amboise by road.
Do you need to book tickets for the château?
Check the Château Royal and Clos Lucé official sites before you go. Online tickets reduce queue time in July and August, and hours change by season.