It was in the 11th century that the construction of a fortress began on top
of a rock formation on the banks of the Loire River, bringing
an imposing air over the entire city of Amboise.
In the 15th century, the fortress, already with some changes, was confiscated and integrated into the royal heritage.
From then until the 17th century, the fortress gained relevance,
becoming the favorite place of the French kings, who hired
renowned artists to apply modifications
and embellishments to it.
Charles VIII, who transformed it into the Château Royal, and Louis XI were
some of these monarchs, but it was François I, patron of the arts, who made Amboise the center of the Court, becoming the first architectural
reference of the Renaissance in the Loire Valley, attracting
many Italian artists, including Leonardo da Vinci,
whom he invited to live at the Château de Clos Lucé
until the end of his life.
The memory of his presence is revealed in the Chapel of St. Hubert, built in
the gardens of the Château Royal, where the remains
of the creator of the Mona Lisa rest.
As it is a place of great events, it is to be expected that the Château has housed several historical personalities, such as: Anne Boleyn, Mary Stuart,
Emperor Charles V, Louis XIV, King of Spain Philip V,
Emperor Napoleon III and Emir Abd-el-Kader.
The Château Royal – which was the last medieval fortress in France –
underwent a gradual process of abandonment, after Francis I.
In the 17th century, it was transformed into a prison, until it was partially demolished at the time of the French Revolution.
It was in the 19th century, during the reign of Louis Philippe,
that the walls were reconstructed and the Château was classified
as a Historic Monument by the French Ministry of Culture.
Currently, the Château is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List
and its conservation is in charge of the Count of Paris,
heir to King Louis Philippe.
Foi no século XI que se iniciou a construção de uma fortaleza no alto de uma
formação rochosa às margens do rio Loire, trazendo um
ar imponente sobre toda a cidade de Amboise.
No século XV, a fortaleza, já com algumas alterações,
foi confiscada e integrada ao patrimônio real.
Daí até o século XVII, a fortaleza ganhou relevância, tornando-se
o local preferido dos reis franceses, que contrataram artistas
renomados para nela aplicar modificações e embelezamentos.
Carlos VIII, que a transformou no Château Royal, e Luís XI foram alguns desses monarcas,
mas foi Francisco I, patrono das artes, que fez de Amboise o centro da Corte, tornando-se
a primeira referência arquitetônica do Renascimento no Vale do Loire,
atraindo muitos artistas italianos, incluindo Leonardo da Vinci, a quem convidou
para morar no Château de Clos Lucé até o fim de sua vida.
A memória da sua presença revela-se na Capela de St. Hubert,
construída nos jardins do Château Royal,
onde repousam os restos mortais
do criador da Mona Lisa.
Por ser um local de grandes eventos, é de se esperar que o Château tenha
abrigado diversas personalidades históricas, dentre algumas:
Ana Bolena, Maria Stuart, Imperador Carlos V, Luís XIV,
Rei da Espanha Filipe V, Imperador Napoleão III
e o Emir Abd-el-Kader.
O Château Royal – que foi a última fortaleza medieval da França – passou por um gradual processo
de abandono, após Francisco I. No século XVII, foi transformado em prisão,
até ser parcialmente demolido na época da Revolução Francesa.
Foi no século XIX, durante o reinado de Louis Philippe, que as muralhas foram reconstruídas
e o Château passou a ser classificado como Monumento Histórico
pelo Ministério da Cultura francês.
Atualmente, o Château faz parte da Lista do Patrimônio Mundial da UNESCO
e sua conservação está a cargo do Conde de Paris,
herdeiro do rei Louis Philippe.
Loire River
Different angles of the landscape with the Loire River seen from the Château Royal
View from the Château Royal of the city of Amboise and its typical buildings
Chapel of Saint Hubert
Looking out from the Chapel of Saint Hubert
Details of the Chapel of Saint Hubert
Details of the gardens of the Château Royal
THANKS FOR WATCHING!!
And if you like castles, I invite you
to visit my projects:
WHAT CATCHES THE EYE - NEUSCHWANSTEIN
WHAT CATCHES THE EYE - MALMAISON
