The Chateau and gardens where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life is now a museum and landscaped theme park.
The Chateau has been beautifully restored giving a true sense of how it would have been when Leonardo lived there. In the basement many of his inventions have been recreated including the bicycle, the paddleboat and the flying machine.
The gardens are described by the park trust as ‘A Landscaped walk dedicated to revealing the intellectual scope of the Tuscan Master'.
The gardens have a woodland feel, with shaded glades, streams and ponds. Set in the garden are 20 giant working machines including the helicopter and Archimedes screw. Hanging on walls or from branches of trees are 32 translucent panels on which are printed examples of his sketches set amongst the nature that is believed to have inspired him.
Part of the garden has been re-created as Leonardo’s Garden. This area has been built to bring back to life many of da Vinci’s botanical drawings. These include over 300 species of plants found in his various sketches. Wander down a steep slope towards his vegetable patch onto a shaded pond and stream. Cross the pond on the lower level of his Double deck bridge and sit and listen to his musings at one of the many sound stations. This is a lovely cool place to rest in summer and an enchanting garden experience.
These gardens are less about the botany and more about the man. Coming away from the gardens visitors have a true sense of the brilliance of this man. He was not only an artist but an engineer, architect, botanist and philosopher.
But most importantly, to the keen gardener, da Vinci was probably the first to recognise the scientific nature of botany. He started to list plants, their features and common attributes. If he had not abandoned this aspect of his work late in life due to the pressures of other ambitions, he might have pre-dated Linneaus who is celebrated as the father of modern botany.
©GardensOnline - review by Bob Saunders
Author: Bob Saunders.
Restaurants There are three places to eat.
Next to the chateaux, set amongst the low box hedges is 'La Terrasse Renaissance' - perfect for a cup of tea and light meal.
Next to Water Mill 'Table du Moulin' is open during summer for snacks.
At the far end of the garden 'Auberge du Prierre' serves meals based on recipes from the time of da Vinci -
Shop The Cultural Shop contains books and souvenirs.
Disabled Access Access only to the gardens. The paths are wide and most are fairly even.
The chateau is set in the heart of Amboise, a short 300m walk up the main street from the Chateau Royale.
By Car From Paris it is a 2 hour drive on the A10. From Tours it is a 20minute drive along the N152 or D751. From Blois it is a 30min drive on N152.
By Train From Paris Austerlitz it is possible to take a direct train - the trip will take 2hours. Amboise Railway Station is 2km from the centre.