Da Vinci Slept Here

February 3, 2010 at 8:00 am · Filed under france, international travel, tourism, travel and tagged: amboise, da vinci, loire valley, travel writing

By Linda Tancs

Amboise Castle (Château d’Amboise) is a stout fortress in France’s Loire valley.  Its magnificent trappings and gardens no doubt merit a World Heritage designation, but its biggest claim to fame may be for what is–or isn’t–buried in the palace grounds; namely, the remains of Leonardo da Vinci.  The great Renaissance master moved to France in what would be his last years during the reign of King Francis I, accepting a post as “first painter to the king.”  His creative genius is undisputed (a rare occurrence).  What is less certain, however, is his final resting place, reputed to be Saint-Hubert’s chapel on the palace grounds.  According to a story by the Associated Press, his remains were originally buried at the palace church of Saint Florentine but required removal after destruction of the site during the French Revolution.  The identity of the remains removed to Saint-Hubert remains subject to much speculation.  Amboise holds fast to its status as eternal host to one of the world’s finest artists; a simple stone slab on the floor of the church bears his name.  Regardless what you believe, there are plenty of other reasons to visit the palace, like the sweeping views of the town and valley from the castle ramparts.  The intricate Late Gothic carvings on the chapel’s exterior and its interior stained glass windows are worth the visit, too.

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 The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.

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