Inside Relais d’Amboise : A Luxury Hotel in France’s Historic Loire Valley
Set beneath Château Royal d’Amboise on the banks of the Loire in France, Relais d’Amboise brings together five centuries of history, troglodyte suites and a spa carved into the tuffeau rock, alongside an outdoor pool and Michelin-starred dining. The rooftop Turner Bar completes the experience with views across the river and château.
For centuries, Amboise in France’s Loire Valley has been a place to admire. The Royal Château rises above the town, its limestone walls overlooking the Loire, while nearby Clos Lucé marks the final chapter in Leonardo da Vinci’s life, with the artist buried in the château’s chapel. Yet for all its history and visual drama, the town has had surprisingly few places to stay that feel equally rooted in its extraordinary setting.
Relais d’Amboise changes that. Set beside the Loire beneath the Royal Château, the hotel brings together two of Amboise’s historic properties, Le Choiseul and Le Manoir des Minimes, into a single estate. The result is an unusually ambitious hotel that draws its character from the buildings themselves, combining historic architecture and gardens with contemporary hospitality. Rather than simply overlooking Amboise’s landmarks, Relais d’Amboise places them at the heart of the stay, with the river, château and centuries of local heritage woven into the experience.
Along Quai Charles Guinot, the estate brings together former noble residences, restored gardens, riverside terraces and a network of troglodyte caves carved into the local limestone. Behind the project is Frédéric Jousset, the entrepreneur and philanthropist whose portfolio also includes Relais de Chambord, working through his heritage investment fund Artnova. His approach at Amboise has been less about creating a hotel from scratch than about bringing a remarkable collection of existing spaces back into use.
Rooms shaped by their setting
Spread across the estate’s historic buildings, the rooms and suites each have their own character, with views towards the Loire, Royal Château of Amboise, gardens or park. The interiors combine marble, velvet, bronze and glass with artwork, books and Italian trompe-l’œil, allowing each space to retain a sense of its history.
For château views, the two Superior Château rooms in the Manoir des Minimes look towards the Royal Château, with one also overlooking the Loire, while the three Deluxe Château rooms frame the château and its distinctive Minimes tower. The three Superior Terrace rooms offer a more private alternative, each with its own garden overlooking the park.
✦ For the most unique stay, Les Voûtes du Château comprises four Signature Junior Suites carved into the hillside’s tuffeau rock, all overlooking the park, with one offering a private garden. |
A spa carved into the stone
Spa des Roches takes its character from its unusual setting, carved into pale stone.Created in collaboration with Clarins and myBlend, the spa takes a holistic approach, offering facial and body treatments alongside an exclusive range of world-inspired massages. Treatments are designed with an emphasis on precision and personalisation, with each ritual tailored to the body’s needs.
A full thermal circuit includes a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, sensory shower and cold bath, alongside cutting-edge technology and bespoke therapies. Outside, the swimming pool sits in the heart of the park beneath views of Château d’Amboise, while a Technogym fitness room completes the wellness offering.
Dining overlooking the Loire
Dining at Relais d’Amboise is closely tied to the setting, with the Loire Valley shaping both the restaurant’s menus and the views beyond the windows. At Le Choiseul, Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Aubry brings a refined bistronomic approach to French cuisine, with local produce and regional wines reflecting the surrounding terroir. The restaurant overlooks the Loire and Château d’Amboise.
For drinks, Le Turner Bar occupies the hotel’s rooftop terrace, with panoramic views across the Loire and Île d’Or towards Château d’Amboise. Champagne, signature cocktails and Loire Valley wines provide the reason to linger as the light changes over the river.
Art within the estate
Art runs through Relais d’Amboise, from the hotel and gardens to the Greniers de César, a network of troglodyte spaces carved into the rock more than five centuries ago. The restored caves now host exhibitions, artistic collaborations, events and wine tastings. Contemporary artist Bernar Venet is among those featured, with a site-specific exhibition created in collaboration with the Château du Clos Lucé and Royal Château of Amboise.
The Loire Valley, quite literally at the door
The location is difficult to improve upon. Relais d’Amboise sits at the foot of the Royal Château on Quai Charles Guinot, with the Loire running along the edge of the estate and views towards the château from across the property. Amboise itself is easy to explore on foot, with the Royal Château, Clos Lucé and the old town within easy reach. Beyond the town, the hotel provides a useful base for exploring the wider Loire Valley, with many of the region’s best-known châteaux within around 15 kilometres, including Chenonceau, Villandry and Château d’Ussé.
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There is also a more secluded way to take in the landscape. A hidden staircase of nearly 130 steps runs through the Greniers de César to the hotel’s Loire Belvedere, a panoramic terrace near the château overlooking the river. What makes the setting particularly appealing is that the sense of place continues when you return to the hotel. The Loire remains part of the view, the château dominates the landscape and the gardens, historic buildings and riverside setting keep Amboise’s history present throughout the stay.
Getting there
Amboise is easy to reach from Paris, making it a straightforward addition to a Loire Valley trip. Regional trains from Paris Austerlitz take around 1.5 hours, while high-speed services from Paris Montparnasse run to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, around 20 kilometres from Amboise. By car, the journey from Paris takes approximately 2.5 hours, while Tours Val de Loire Airport is around 25 kilometres away. Once in Amboise, the historic centre is easy to explore on foot, with Relais d’Amboise at 36 Quai Charles Guinot, directly on the Loire.
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