Christmas at Amboise in the Loire Valley

Amboise is gorgeous at any time of year. But at Christmas, the once royal castle comes into its own. This year the chateau is putting on an exhibition of Christmas in the past, taking you from the Renaissance to the 18^th and 19^th centuries to show you how our ancestors celebrated the season. The chateau is lit up like a Christmas tree itself. Take the audio-guide in English, which also has Christmas music to complete the experience.

Amboise has lovely gardens as well, looking over the River Loire. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that shows you how kings and princes, queens and royal princesses lived at Court. It also offers a great behind-the-scenes experience. Amboise is easy to get to from Paris, going via nearby Blois.

The exhibition runs until January 6^th, 2013 and the chateau is one of those open all year, closing only on December 25^th and January 1^st.

Practical Information

• Open December 31^st to January 31^st 9am-12.30pm and 2-4.45pm
• Further details, see the Guide to winter sightseeing in the Loire Valley

More on the Loire Valley

• Chateau of Blois
• Guide to Blois
• Getting to Blois from Paris