September 2007

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Amboise - Loire Valley

The town of Amboise, which lies on the south bank of the Loire below the proud remains of its castle, appears at its most picutresque when seen from the bridge of the north bank of the river. The rock spur above the town, on which the chateau ruins stand, has been fortified since the Gallo -Roman period. Before long a brdige was built which brought in revenue from tolls on the passage of goods and increased the strategic importance of Amboise. The golden age of Amboise was the 15th century when the chateau was enlarged and embellished by Louis XI and Charles VIII.

The Royal castle: Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, this truly royal castle introduced Italian style and taste into the Loire Va lley. It is steeped in History and the outstanding collection of Gothic and Renaissance furniture make it a wonderfully convivial illustration of life in days gone by. After touring the royal apartments, take a stroll in the beautiful gardens filled with Mediterranean trees and enjoy the panoramic views. In St. Hubert's Chapel is the grave of Leonardo da Vinci which has recently been the subject of elegant restoration.

Le Clos Luce: its park and the Eiffel-style hall contain an unusual display giving some idea of the many facets of Leonardo da Vinci's genius in fields as different as art, civil and military engineering, architecture and town planning, anatomy, botany, stage direction etc… The public is taken into an amazing world of visual and sound effects:
• In the Château du Clos Luce itself: Leonardo da Vinci's everyday life and his 40 fabulous inventions.
• In the landscaped walk: a learning experience with Leonardo and his student.
• In the Eiffel-style hall: a Leonardo scenography, a display of gigantic images and videos.

Amboise can easily be reached by train from Paris. You can either go on the slow train from Austerlitz to Amboise or take the TGV from Montparnasse or CDG airport to Joue les Tours and then a short taxi ride to Amboise. In the town and surrounding the town are numerous hotels. At Discover France we have used a variety over the years and have detailed knowledge about what hotels meet the needs of travelers. Some good choices include: Le Choiseul, Le Clos d'Amboise, Le Manoir les Minimes, Manoir Thomas. These are mostly upper end establishments. Many good vineyards surround the town of Amboise including Vouvray and Montlouis. There are several good places for tasting in Amboise including a rather commercial but friendly place right below the chateau where the servers speak English.

Fall Travel - the weather has not been particularly warm this summer, so think about a possible wet and cooler than normal fall season.

New Open Skies: the new agreement for air travel between the USA and Europe is expected to help lower fares and create more opportunities for travelers between the two continents. The agreement goes into effect in March 2008, so as the airlines position themselves now, we can hope to see some lower fares for the main Europe season starting next year! Its a good idea to monitor the offers this fall for next season to see if any rate changes come as March approaches.

Renting a house in France? Gite rental is a great way to spend a long vacation in France. They come in week long durations, from Saturday to Saturday, and are available in a variety of "quality" levels. The rating system is from 1 to 4 "wheat stalks" (un epi). Some things to know: Gite Rural - you have to have a car; its a rural location and probably very quiet if not isolated. In fact, a car is really a necessity because you will do your own groceries. Doing your own groceries will require that you buy durable bags to carry your groceries because plastic is no longer an option in most of France's grocery stores. Contracts for gites almost always require an advance deposit, but often can be paid by credit card. The balance is due at check in along with a deposit. Make sure in advance if the deposit must be CASH or not!. Linens can usually be rented but for a lot of money. Make sure you have a washer on site! Drying clothes - if no dryer, be prepared for long drying times on the line! Air conditioning - often only in the more luxe properties. Seasons: shoulder and low seasons are often significantly less than high season. Rates are not negotiable as most owners give up the management of their gite rental to the main service Gites de France.

See www.gites-de-france.com
Note: if you don't have the time or are unsure of what would be a good choice, Discover France will help you find and book a gite for a modest service fee.

Hotel Promotions in September/October: all subject to availability

Paris - almost no availability in our entire group! Limited space only in some 4 star hotels; rates from 200 euros and up to 400 euros/night.

Cannes - Hotel Canberra *** - Stay 4 Pay 3; September 1-6 time frame only.

Stay 5 - Pay for 4! At any of our 10 Chateaux hotels located in the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Ile de France, Alsace, Cote d'Azur, or Alpes. All hotels are superior 4 star locations with top quality services and gastronomic restaurants.

.CALL 800-960-2221 or email: contact@discoverfrance.com for availability on your dates and rate confirmation.

© 2007 Discover France (SM)