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| Chateau Amboise |
Today we visited the Chateau d'Amboise and the Chateau Clos-Luce. Construction of the d'Amboise castle began around the year 987. A book was written about d'Amboise in the 12th century. d'Amboise was a favorite of the French kings. This lasted until the beginning of the 17th century. Afterwards it fell into decline. The 15th century was significant in the history of d'Amboise. King Francis I was raised here and through his lifetime many famous people in France passed through here. Anne Bolyn, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Mary Queen of Scots. Mary spent 13 years here under the watchful eye of Henry II and Catherine de'Medici. This was following her betrothal to the French heir, Francis II. The castle was the line of demarcation between occupied France and free France in World War II. There was a bridge crossing the Loire River, across from our apartment. It was destroyed by French soldiers, in an effort to delay an assault by German soldiers when they had Amboise under attack. The castle suffered severe damage in 1940 during this battle, but the Germans prevailed. The castle suffered greater damage as the war continued in 1944 from Allied bombers. A good portion of the castle has been restored, and it is classified as a "Historic Monument of France", open to the public. This allows the public to walk in the footsteps of some of the most famous people in French history. Outside our apartment is a plaque that recognizes the French Resistance to the Germans in 1940.
Near d'Amboise is another castle, Chateau Clos-Luce. Clos-Luce was built in 1471 and was used as a "summer house' for French royalty. It is closely connected with Chateau d'Amboise. Francis I gave this Chateau to Leonardo da Vinci when he invited him to move to France in 1516. Da Vinci was a famous artist, inventor, architect, philosopher and just about anything else you can imagine. As you probably know, he painted the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. He did so much more.
He made the design for the first helicopter, I feel a kinship with Leonardo. I look on him as the father of Army Aviation. I learned how to fly a helicopter in a OH-23 D. My first helicopter was not that far removed from the Wright Brothers.
Seriously, I was amazed about the inventions that Leonardo made that have a dramatic effect on our daily lives.
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| Clos-Luce |
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| Leonardo's bed chamber |
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| Chateau Amboise view from garden |
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| Our apartment, middle of picture, two shades half drawn |
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| Liore River |
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