Amboise

Max and I up at 6:00 am and off to Gare Austerlitz - a beautiful little train station - for our trip to Amboise in the Loire Valley about two hours from Paris.  Really beautiful train! And comfortable too...

If you Google "charming" pictures of Amboise will pop up.  Located on the Loire River it is a popular tourist stop. There are over a thousand castles and palaces in the area.  We (at least I) saw a few from the train. We arrived a bit before the museums and exhibits opened so stopped in at Le Cafe Bigot for breakfast.

Restaurant and Patisserie on Steroids

Max's Breakfast

We then headed up the hill to the Da Vinci Museum and Gardens.  Spectacular views of the town and interesting exhibits.  It's hard to imagine that Leonardo was in Amboise for only three years.  He accomplished so much. He worked on his inventions, drew up plans for castles and water projects, and acted as the supreme party planner for Francois I.  At one celebration to welcome the king's sister, he designed a life-sized mechanical lion that walked up to the king.  When the king struck it on the side with a sword, it opened up and presented his visitor with a bouquet of fleur-de-lis. What a riot!

Entrance to the Gardens

Cross Country Skis circa 1517

Parachute

After the museum we headed back to town and then climbed to the Chateau du Clos-Luce.

Chareau du Clos-Luce

Panoramic View from Turret

We were able to tour some parts of the interior - the home is still occupied on the upper levels by the family - and the gardens.  The small, beautiful, and dainty chapel on the property is the final resting place of Da Vinci.

Checking for Dust Bunnies

They Needed These Huge Fireplaces!

Modest Guest Bedroom

Mimi and Max in Another Incarnation

View From the Highest Point

Lean on Me!