Indre-et-Loire
Tourism and leisure activities near Amboise!
Take advantage of your campsite holiday to discover Indre-et-Loire: visit the Loire castles and museums in Touraine, stroll through parks and gardens, discover troglodyte sites and tourist cellars, spend a day in Tours or Blois, take a barge trip on the royal river, go hiking or cycle on the “Loire à Vélo”… So many reasons to book your stay at the 3-star Camping Le Jardin Botanique!
The Amboise market, a stone's throw from the Le Jardin Botanique campsite
Every Friday and Sunday morning, the Amboise market brings life to the banks of the Loire, just 5 minutes from the Le Jardin Botanique campsite.
Renowned as the largest market in Indre-et-Loire, it attracts visitors and residents from Tours to Blois.
Stroll between the stalls and meet the producers of Touraine: fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, rotisserie, local charcuterie (rillons, rillettes, terrines) and wines from the Loire Valley such as Touraine-Amboise, Montlouis or Vouvray.
Ideal for preparing a picnic, doing your shopping or bringing back local specialties. Voted “France’s Favorite Market” in 2015, it charms with its friendly and gourmet atmosphere.
Practical tip: favour the castle car park, Place Richelieu or Place Saint-Denis, especially after 10am, when it is very busy.
The Royal Château of Amboise, a symbol of the Renaissance
Located just 10 minutes from Camping Le Jardin Botanique, the Royal Château of Amboise majestically overlooks the Loire.
A former medieval fortress that became a refined royal residence during the Renaissance, this important site in French history was shaped in the 15th and 16th centuries by Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I.
The visit immerses the public in the lives of the sovereigns, the political and artistic influence of Amboise and the inner workings of the Royal Court.
Discover the Saint-Hubert chapel, a jewel of flamboyant Gothic architecture, which houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci, as well as the Renaissance salons, the Council chamber, the medieval towers, the secret underground passages and the landscaped gardens.
In summer, the nighttime show “At the Court of King Francis” offers a unique immersion in history. Open year-round, the château is a must-see in the Loire Valley.
The Château du Clos Lucé
Clos Lucé is the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci, who lived there for the last three years of his life. The château invites you to explore the world of the most brilliant inventor of all time through guided tours, reconstructions, exhibitions, 3D animations, and more.
Clos Lucé Park and Gardens
Don’t leave Clos Lucé without strolling through the Leonardo da Vinci Park and Garden. It’s a veritable open-air museum dedicated to the visionary genius of Leonardo da Vinci. An introductory trail with more than twenty giant interactive machines to operate (helicopter, tank, fan-firing machine gun, paddle steamer), giant canvases, a two-level bridge… An exciting and fun family outing that will delight both children and parents!
Address: 2 Rue du Clos Lucé, 37400 Amboise – Tel. 02 47 57 00 73
See more information about visiting Clos Lucé
The Loire Valley Wine Route, starting from Amboise
Discover the wines of the Loire Valley and this great wine region, from Chalonnes-sur-Loire to Sully-sur-Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Le Jardin Botanique campsite is located in Limeray, one of the ten wine-growing communes in the “Touraine-Amboise” Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) area. It is crossed by the Touraine-Val de Loire wine route.
The Loire Valley’s “wine route” is the longest in France, stretching nearly 800 km. This scenic route is marked by numerous signs inviting you to discover an exceptional heritage along the Loire River.
Dotted with castles and wine estates, the Loire Valley Wine Route offers a diversity of colorful oenological pleasures: red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, amateurs and connoisseurs will appreciate this oenological stop.
What to do and see in Tours, a city of Art and History
During your stay in the Loire Valley, do not miss a visit to Tours, designated a City and Land of Art and History and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Loire cultural landscape.
Nicknamed “Little Paris”, Tours charms with its dynamism, its monuments and its many opportunities for urban walks.
Stroll through Old Tours, an iconic district with 15th-century half-timbered houses, and discover must-see sites such as Saint-Gatien Cathedral, Saint-Martin Basilica, Charlemagne Tower or Tours Castle.
Today, it hosts cultural exhibitions throughout the year, with free entry from Tuesday to Sunday.
Also enjoy a trip on the Loire in a gabare, traditional boat or canoe, to admire the hillsides and troglodyte houses.
Throughout the year, guided tours and heritage activities allow you to discover Tours in a different way.
The Royal Château of Blois, the heart of French history
During your stay in the Loire Valley, visit the Royal Château of Blois, former favorite residence of seven kings and ten queens of France.
A true royal palace, it is distinguished by its unique architectural richness, bringing together four wings of different styles from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.
Discover the royal apartments with their polychrome decorations, the Hall of the Estates General, the iconic spiral staircase of Francis I, the Gaston d’Orléans wing designed by François Mansart and the Museum of Fine Arts.
In the evening, the Sound and Light show retraces the intrigues, dramas and mysteries that have marked the history of France.
Open all year round (except January 1st and December 25th), the castle is a must-see.
Extend your exploration in the city of Blois: half-timbered houses, the House of Magic, the Jacques-Gabriel bridge and historic gardens complete this cultural getaway.
The Troglodytic Valley of Goupillières
Located in Azay-le-Rideau, about 60 km from the campsite, the Goupillières troglodytic valley is a unique site that immerses visitors in the peasant life of the Middle Ages.
Through guided or self-guided tours, discover three troglodytic farms carved into the tuffeau, typical of the Touraine of yesteryear.
Stables, vegetable gardens, wells, bread ovens, grain silos and an underground refuge lit by torchlight illustrate the daily life of the inhabitants of yesteryear.
This fun and educational visit appeals to the whole family.
Children will particularly enjoy meeting farm animals, playing areas and imaginary worlds such as the cabin, the castle or the witch’s house.
An unmissable activity in the Loire Valley, ideal for combining discovery, nature and heritage during your stay.
The Petrifying Caves of Savonnières
Located 40 kilometers from the campsite, the Petrifying Caves of Savonnières-Villandry will amaze you with the whiteness of their sparkling concretions. You’ll learn all about stalactites, stalagmites, and draperies.
Enjoy your camping holiday in the heart of Touraine to visit the ancient tuffeau quarries formed around 100 million years ago and used in the Middle Ages in the construction of the Loire castles.
Abandoned and then flooded by water, the caves now house all types of limestone formations: stalactites, stalagmites, undulating and jagged draperies, soda straws, calcite flows…
The extra touch: To conclude the visit, a wine tasting is offered to visitors in the room specially set up for this purpose, in the heart of the second cave.
See more information on the Petrifying Caves with soap-making facilities
Ideas for visits and leisure activities near Amboise
During your holidays in the Loire Valley, enjoy a wide choice of visits and leisure activities near Camping Le Jardin Botanique, located near Amboise.
The territory offers an exceptional wealth of heritage, nature and relaxation.
Discover the must-see Loire castles such as Amboise, Clos Lucé, Chenonceau, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Chambord or Blois, not forgetting the Sound and Light shows and the Garden Festival.
Explore troglodytic sites, petrifying caves, towns of character like Tours, Loches or Montrichard, or enjoy a unique experience during a boat trip or hot air balloon ride on the Loire.
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, horse riding or fishing.
On the local side, explore the vineyards of the Loire Valley (Touraine-Amboise, Vouvray, Chinon…).
Finally, numerous family activities complete the offering: Beauval Zoo, Touraine Aquarium, amusement parks and recreational sites.
Chaumont-sur-Loire Garden Festival
The Garden Festival presents itself as a stunning panorama of the state of landscape design worldwide. It takes place in a section of the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, showcasing a selection of landscape creations linked to a particular theme.
An unmissable event for garden art enthusiasts, the festival is aimed at professionals, landscape designers, amateurs or simply visitors.
Both a mine of ideas and a nursery of talent, the Festival revitalizes the art of gardens and interests the public and the profession by presenting new blooms, new materials, innovative ideas and approaches.
The 10-hectare “Prés du Goualoup” Park, created in 2012, features perennial gardens linked to the great civilizations of gardening.
Sound and Light Shows: Amboise, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau...
In the Loire Valley, summer is the ideal season to discover the Sound and Light shows organized in the prestigious setting of the Loire castles such as Amboise, Blois, or Azay-le-Rideau.
As night falls, these iconic monuments transform into true open-air stages, combining light displays, image projections, and an immersive sound atmosphere.
These shows tell the story of the castles, their characters, and their glorious past, offering a cultural and enchanting experience accessible to the whole family.
Ideal for enhancing your holiday evenings, the Sound and Light shows perfectly complement a camping stay near Amboise.
A unique opportunity to experience the Loire Valley heritage differently, with emotion, discovery, and wonder.