Château Gaillard, Amboise, Francine 4K by Drone No Fly Zone

Referred to as "The forgotten royal paradise," Château Gaillard is open to the public from April through the fall. Privately owned, the château and gardens have been restored.

Château Gaillard has a long history. In 1496, King Charles VIII returned from Italy and wanted to create gardens such as he had seen in Naples. Enlisting Dom Pacello de Mercoliano, sometimes called the inventer of the art of gardens, Charles created the first Renaissance gardens in France. The château later passed to King Louis XII, and ultimately to King François I.

The Gaillard gardens included the first orange trees in France. Think of the Orangerie in Paris and the Orangerie at Versailles. They both came later.

Dom Pacello also created the variety of plums that are known today as Reine Claude (Queen Claude), named for Claude, daughter of Louis XII and wife of King François I. (In English these plums have the much less romantic name of greengage.)

Today, Château Gaillard is still known for its gardens. It is lovely to wander through the gardens, and you can even bring a picnic. The visit may include the gardens, the Orangerie (with 50 varieties of citrus), an "olfactory cave," a large-scale model of the royal domain in 1500, a bar offering organic "bio" orange juice; and the 16th century château. The château has been restored and includes period furnishings, stained glass windows, Renaissance fire places, and frescoes of citrus trees and fruit.

Permanent exhibitis focus on the history of the first Renaissance gardens, the history of citrus, and information on the restoration of the Royal Domaine.

A map at the entrance shows the various walkways and paths that you might want to explore.