Amboise, France

Amboise is about a 3 hour drive south of Paris in the Loire Valley in France.  There is a fast TGV train that will take you there in an hour.  We picked up our rental car at CDG and drove there being guided by our handy Garmin navigation system that we downloaded with a map of Europe and brought from home.  This is the first look at the town as you come across the river Loire. 

The Chateau sits atop the hill overlooking the town.  Amboise used to be the home of the French royal court.  It is a nice size town with restaurants and two chateaus to see.  It is situated in the middle of the Loire Valley so it is a convenient base to explore from.  

The buildings in the town are so picturesque. 

'Tour de l'Horloge (The Clock Tower)

This little main street is packed until about 7 when the shops close down and then there are just people going out to dinner and is somewhat deserted. 

We enjoyed sitting at this little tea house and patisserie people watching.  The restaurant is called Bigot and during World War II their owner hid jewish people and worked with the resistance.

The architecture and the window boxes added to the charm of this town.  There is a nice open air market on Sundays.

The River Loire.  

It is swift and has spots full of quicksand.  It is forbidden to go into it.  

Here is a list of the restaurants we ate at, some required a reservation and all were wonderful:

La Fourchette

Auberge de Launay

Le Patio (did not eat at, but everyone raved about)

Patisserie Bigot

Amorino