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Feeling Festive in Amboise, France: Celebrating Noël in the Loire Valley

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Tricia A. Mitchell

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A rare, late-November snowfall unofficially ushered in the holiday season in Amboise, France this year. This delicate dusting of snow added flair to the town’s slate rooftops and cobblestone lanes for several brief, beautiful moments, and then it swiftly melted.

Days later, Amboise hosted its annual winter parade—an imaginative affair with animated performers on stilts, oversized glowing reindeer “puppets,” and a daring aerial rope artist.

Soon, the Christmas season was in full swing…

It’s only our second festive season here in Amboise, but Shawn and I have come to love the delightfully decorated storefronts that elicit a childlike sense of wonder. Two years in a row, my favorite storefront decorations (vitrines de Noël) have been those at Un Coin de France, a fabulous kitchenware store on Rue Nationale. Last year, a teddy bear in the shop’s window piloted a vibrant red airplane. This year, however, the bear seemingly flew away and the boutique instead introduced passersby to a giant bear making macarons.

In early December, we now look forward to seeing the choral musical performance inside the atmospheric Saint Denis Church. Its vaulted ceilings have incredible acoustics! Later in the month, we enjoy strolling among the booths at the Christmas markets (marchés de Noël), where mulled wine (vin chaud), waffles (gaufres), and handmade trinkets like soap, wooden toys, and crocheted accessories are available. There’s also a special market called Noël en Cœur where volunteer groups sell items that benefit important causes in the local community.

From our living room windows, we can see the white twinkly lights that festoon Amboise’s Old Town core. And every night, we savor strolls among the holiday decorations adorning Amboise’s main square, Place Michel Debré. Michel Bublé’s holiday tunes fill the airwaves there, thanks to speakers installed among the Christmas trees.

Last year, we rushed about during the holiday season visiting four castles in the Loire Valley: the Château d’Amboise, Amboise’s Château Gaillard, the Château de Chenonceau and Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. All displayed incredible Christmas splendor.

This year, however, we opted to take things at a slower pace and solely visit Amboise’s Clos Lucé, the red brick manor home where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life.

It’s been nice delighting in the details at a pace that’s more tranquille.

Bonne année! Happy New Year!

On the left, snow clings to a blue and copper-called ornament on an evergreen tree. On the right, the Saint Denis Church in Amboise, France is dusted with a light snowfall.
Left: A tree decked out with ornaments and snow on rue Nationale. Right: The Saint Denis Church (Église Collégiale Saint-Denis), a Romanesque-style building.
The Saint Denis Church in Amboise, France is seen on a snowy day. In the photo on the left, the tower and ornate doorway are visible. On the right, you can see a winged angel and flora motif carved into the archway.
Saint Denis’ roots go back more than 800 years.
On the left, the main entrance of Saint Denis Church in Amboise, France is visible. There is snow on the stairs leading into the church. On the right, Amboise's War Memorial is lightly dusted in snow. There are three figures in the memorial. Several French flags adorn a Plane tree to the left, and bouquets of flowers sit at the foot of the memorial.
Left: The main entrance to Saint-Denis. Right: Amboise’s War Memorial on the Quai du Général de Gaulle. It honors those who were killed during several wars.
Evergreen trees are covered in a light dusting of snow on an overcast day in Amboise, France.
Evergreens, including a Lebanese Cedar, dressed in snow during a rare late-November snowfall.
Four glowing reindeer puppets move through the main street of Amboise, France during a holiday parade. Crowds line both sides of the street.
An imaginative holiday parade kicked off the holiday season at the end of November. This year’s parade was called “La parade amoureuse” by la Cie Remue-Ménage performing group. It featured reindeer “puppets,” an aerial circus artist, and performers on stilts.
Six oversized glowing reindeer puppets stand in a winter holiday performance in Amboise, France alongside the stone exterior of Saint Florentin Church. Spectators watch the spectacle, with some children sitting atop the shoulders of adults.
The performers used the centuries-old Saint Florentin Church (Église Saint-Florentin) as a backdrop for the spectacle.
Int he photo on the left, an aerial rope performer hangs upside down on a red rope, her legs outstretched. Two parade participants look on. In the right, Amboise, France's principal street, Rue Nationale, is decorated for Christmas with white twinkling lights overhead and evergreen trimmings on a storefront.
Left: Spectators marvel at an aerial rope (corde-lisse) performer’s impressive maneuvers. Right: Rue Nationale, Amboise’s main street, all decked out with sparkling lights.
Amboise's Saint Hubert Chapel towers over buildings on Rue Nationale. Curved white holiday lights hang from the buildings' second floors. In the right, a white Maltese dog wears red and white feathers on its head for Christmas.
Left: A bird’s-eye view of Rue Nationale and the Gothic-style Chapel of Saint-Hubert (Chapelle-Saint-Hubert). Right: A dog, sporting holiday accessories.
The interior of Amboise's Saint Florentin Church is decorated with pale blue Christmas lights below a colorful stained glass panel. Below, Christmas market attendees peruse tables filled with jewelry for sale.
Amboise’s Christmas market inside the Saint Florentin Church features booths with artisans selling handmade jewelry, wooden sculptures, artisanal soap, and more.
In the left, Amboise's Christmas market fills the square by the Saint Florentin Church. White tents shelter merchants selling handmade soap, metal sculptures, and more. In the photo on the right, a dining room table shows a white plate with goat cheese shaped like a Christmas tree and snowflake and coveredw tih herbs. An electronic candle fills a blue candleholder and book titled "Amboise Agenda 2025" sits on the table.
Left: In the Christmas market outside, merchants sold everything from mulled wine (vin chaud) to deep-fried spring rolls (nems), and crêpes. Right: Enjoying artisanal goat cheese, two of which are formed in the shape of an evergreen tree (sapin) and snowflake (flocon de neige). We bought this chèvre from Amboise’s twice-weekly farmer’s market. The beautiful Amboise agenda was designed by our friends, Mark and Pamela. Mark is a professional photographer who leads photography workshops for visitors to France. Pamela has written several books about Amboise.
The exterior and interior of Amboise's Saint Denis Church. In the photo on the left, the stone church is visible at dusk. There is a wire pyramid shape decorated with Christmas lights an ornaments. In the photo on the right, members of a chorus perform inside the church's interior. The red lights of the chandelier cast a red glow on the audience and performers.
Left: Saint Denis Church (Église Collégiale Saint-Denis). Right: Every December, a choral performance is held in Saint Denis. Here, the Ensemble Vocal Chaneloire and the Choeur Alingavia perform.
The "Un Coin de France" shop in Amboise, France is seen with Christmas decorations and products for sale in the window at night. There are green and red dishes, drinking glasses, and stuffed animals, including a bear and Santa Claus wearing a chef's hat.
Un Coin de France, a boutique selling fantastic kitchenware, features some of the most endearing holiday decorations every year.
The "Un Coin de France" shop in Amboise, France is seen with Christmas decorations and products for sale in the window. There are green and red dishes, drinking glasses, and stuffed animals, including a bear and Santa Claus wearing a chef's hat.
The "Un Coin de France" shop in Amboise, France is seen with Christmas decorations and chocolate products for sale in the window. There are green and red dishes, drinking glasses, and stuffed animals, including a woodchuck or marmot wearing a chef's hat.
Amboise's Saint Hubert Chapel towers over the Michel Debré Square on an overcast day. Green evergreen trees, decorated with multicolored ornaments, frame the scene.
The Chapel of Saint-Hubert (Chapelle-Saint-Hubert) towers over Place Michel Debré. Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb is located inside the chapel.
Christmas decorations in Amboise, France. In the photo on the left, a half-timbered, brick building's window is decorated with nutcrackers, red garland, ornaments and evergreen clippings. On the right, an old-fashioned red mailbox sits on the main square, Michel Debré. A sign on the mailbox, which is handwritten, reads: "Le Père Noël: Livraison Express."
Left: Old-fashioned decorations adorn the window of La Fourchette restaurant. Right: A mailbox (une boîte à lettres du Père Noël) awaits letter deposits in Amboise’s main square.
In the photo on the left, a stuffed teddy bear and small evergreen tree decorate a window of a café in Amboise, France. On the right, a man and woman wearing winter hats pose underneath a Christmas Tree at Clos Lucé château.
On the left, a Christmas gree wtih white and gold ornaments sits outside of a pastry shop in Amboise, France. On the right, a woman and man pose below the Saint Hubert Chapel in Amboise, France.
The Bigot Pastry Shop in Amboise, France is decorated for Christmas. In the photo on the left, a tree sits in front of the shop with the town's belltower in the background. On the right, a golden pyramid made of candies fills the store's display window, along with jelly candies, chocolate, and sugared chestnuts.
Bigot Pâtisserie (left and right), with Amboise’s clocktower in the background.
A display window at a pastry shop in Amboise, France is full with macarons, éclairs, slices of a bûche de Noël, croissants, and brioche.
Shawn, picking out our Christmas Eve dessert. He ultimately chose a slice of a bûche de Noël called “Antan,” made with a gingerbread biscuit, candied orange compote, cocoa, Caribbean mousse, and crispy praline. I selected the Tourangelle, which featured an apple hazelnut biscuit, creamy caramel, and bourbon vanilla cream. (If you’re visiting Amboise and you’re looking for a gluten-free dessert, I have good news: the Tourangelle is generally available year-round and it is labeled as being gluten free. If you are Celiac, as opposed to gluten intolerant, it’s best to check with the team at Bigot to inquire about possible gluten cross contamination.)
A display window at the Bigot Pastry Shop is traversed by an edible train made with chocolate, frosting, and more.
The display case at Bigot Pâtisserie holds tempting bûches de Noël and a delighful edible train.
The storefront of the Brocante l'Hermine is decorated for Christmas with green fabric, a snow-covered evergreen tree, and a red parrot and ornaments.
Brocante L’Hermine, an antique shop on Rue Nationale.
The storefront of the Petite Balade boutique in Amboise, France is decorated with a white gnome statue holding a heart, a fake candle, and artificial evergreen trimmings.
Petite Balade, a boutique with eclectic goods, also on Rue Nationale.
The Clos Lucé Chateau in Amboise, France is decorated for the holidays. In the photo on the left, Christmas wreaths hang on the building's main entryway. In the photo on the right, the brick building is seen in the background, with a Christmas tree in the foreground.
Clos Lucé, the manor home where Leonardo da Vinci lived for three years.
The interior of Clos Lucé in Amboise, France is seen decorated for Christmas with a Christmas tree decorated with red and gold ornaments, and white twinkling lights.
The interior of Clos Lucé.
The interior of Clos Lucé as seen during the Christmas winter holidays. In the photo on the right, a visitor looks at a replica of the Mona Lisa hanging on the brick wall of the dining room. A bright red and white floral arrangement and white candle sit on the table. In the photo on the right, a nativity scene featuring green moss and small religious figures fills the chapel at Clos Lucé. A predominantly clear panel of stained glass is visible in the background, as are paintings on the vaulted ceiling.
Left: The dining room of Clos Lucé. Right: A nativity scene in the château’s chapel.
Clos Lucé's grounds are seen at sunset, with a Christmas tree and evergreen trimmings decorating the main walkway.
Clos Lucé at sunset.
A couple is reflected in a red Christmas ornament.
Me and Shawn, reflected on an ornament with Clos Lucé in the background.
A man stands next to an inflatable Santa Claus in Amboise, France. A half-timbered stone building is in the background.
Place Michel Debré in Amboise, France is seen at night. Christmas lights decorate six evergreen trees, and a white and pastel-colored ornament (large enough for people to pass through) is the focal point. The Chapel Saint Hubert towers overhead; its spire is illuminated.
Amboise’s main square, Place Michel Debré.

Where in the World?

  • Amboise is located 225 km (140 miles) southwest of Paris. You can drive yourself to Amboise, of course. However, thanks to the Loire Valley’s well-developed mass transit (at least for the main sights), it’s possible to get around without a car.
  • Amboise has a train station (gare), located on the opposite side of the Loire River from the Château d’Amboise. At the train station, there are several ticket machines. You can also buy tickets online, using SNCF’s official app.
  • How to visit the Loire Valley castles during the Christmas season: Every holiday season, many of the castles in the Loire Valley are decorated for Christmas. In addition, several castles participate in the Christmas in the Land of Castles offering (Noël au Pays des Châteaux), usually from the end of November until the first week of January. You can buy tickets that allow you to visit 3, 4, 5, or 6 castles during this time period. During the 2025-2026 Christmas season the following castles will participate:
  • See Amboise’s 2025 Christmas Calendar of Events here (in French). What follows is a summary of events, but the program at the link above lists all events and starting times:
    • 🎄 28 November 2025: Lighting Ceremony, starts at Place Michel Debré.
    • ❄️ 6 December 2025: Winter Parade, where acrobats and dancers and acrobats will perform during this imaginative and whimsical Christmas procession. | The procession starts at Place Michel Debré and continues to the Quai du Général de Gaulle for its final in front of the Église Saint-Florentin, espace Henri d’Orléans.
    • 📮🎅🏼 1 – 24 December 2025: Mailbox for Père Noël is set up to receive letters on Place Michel Debré (Père Noël—Father Christmas—is France’s Santa Claus).
    • 🕯️🏰 13, 26, 29 December 2025: Candlelight Evenings | Château d’Amboise
    • 🎁 12, 13, 14 December 2025: Christmas Markets | Église Saint-Florentin, espace Henri d’Orléans et Place Michel Debré
    • ♥️ 13, 14 December 2025: Noël en Cœur (market featuring products to benefit local clubs and organizations with a cause) | Salle des fêtes Francis Poulenc
    • 🍄‍🟫 21 December 2025: Truffle & Saffron Market | Square des AFN
  • Where to stay in Amboise during the Christmas season: All of these apartments (or B&B, in the Maison Hulotte’s case) are located within walking distance of Amboise’s centre-ville, its wonderful Friday and Sunday open-air market, the Château d’Amboise, and le Clos Lucé, etc. 
    • The Heart of Amboise – When we first arrived in Amboise, we spent one month in this two-bedroom apartment. It’s located on the top floor of a small townhouse on Rue Chaptal. From the back side of the building, the open kitchen/living room had nice views of Saint Denis, a Romanesque church that’s more than 800 years old. We had ample space in the kitchen to cook up all the wonderful produce we purchased at Amboise’s delightful open-air market. 
    • Le Cosy Pad – Over the holidays, we spent one month in Le Cosy Pad. It was recently renovated, and we found it lived up to its name in that it was indeed cozy. On the ground floor, there was a small kitchen/living room. Upstairs was the bedroom with an adjacent bathroom (with an enclosed shower). The kitchen had a door leading to a garage/room with a washing machine. The apartment is owned by a nice Frenchman named Fabrice who happens to speak English fluently.
    • The apartment next door is called L’Havre Ligérien, and it’s also owned by Fabrice. My husband and I didn’t stay in that unit, but based on the photos, its layout looks similar to Le Cosy Pad. However, L’Havre Ligérien is larger and sleeps more people. Both of these apartments are located on Rue Destouches, just a short walk from Amboise’s centre-ville.
    • Maison Hulotte – This is not an apartment; rather, it’s more of a bed and breakfast housed in an elegant townhouse near the Loire River. The property is located on one of Amboise’s most exclusive streets, Rue de la Concorde. My husband and I met the Maison Hulotte’s lovely French owner, Agnès, when she hosted a local community event in her property’s beautiful common areas. The Château d’Amboise towers over the Maison Hulotte, which is just a short walk from Amboise’s main pedestrian street and many restaurants.
  • How to travel using the train or bus: Rémi, the mass transit network for the Centre Val de Loire region, offers several passes for unlimited travel, with reduced fares at certain attractions upon presentation of your transport ticket. (When buying your ticket at a castle, for example, ask if they are a Rémi partner.) The following multi-day passes offer a good value when using regional buses or trains:
    • Rémi Discovery Pass – Pass Rémi Découverte (Centre Val de Loire Region): €45 for 2 days or €60 for 3 days, for a group of up to 5 people
    • Rémi Discovery Plus Pass – Pass Rémi Découverte Plus (Centre Val de Loire and Ile de France regions): €95 for 2 days or €120 for 3 days, for a group of up to 5 people
    • Rémi Yep’s card for 15-25 year olds (Centre Val de Loire region), which allows you to get a free ticket on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
  • Are you looking for more travel planning inspiration? See all of my posts from the Loire Valley, and all of my posts from France.

Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.

Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

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15 responses to “Feeling Festive in Amboise, France: Celebrating Noël in the Loire Valley”

  1. Annie Berger Avatar
    Annie Berger

    Thanks for sharing your great shots of Christmas in Amboise!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Bonjour, Annie! Glad you enjoyed these winter captures from the Loire Valley. Amboise is charming year-round, but I find it especially attractive when festooned with twinkling lights. I’ll miss the decorations when they’re taken down in early January.

      Happy New Year to you!

      Reply
      1. Annie Berger Avatar
        Annie Berger

        And to you both, too!

  2. mscorning Avatar
    mscorning

    Tricia: What a wonderful article. I enjoyed your vivid descriptions and great pictures. Amboise really knows how to celebrate Christmas. Love Mary Ann😍

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Hi Mary Ann, thank you for your kind words! Absolutely, for being a small town, Amboise certainly has a lot of cultural activities going on. We feel lucky to be here! Happy 2025! Hugs from us both.

      Reply
  3. Darlene Avatar
    Darlene

    What a delightful post. I love Christmas in Europe! The desserts at the bakery look so good I would have trouble deciding. Wishing both of you a fabulous 2025!!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Happy New Year, Darlene!

      We had trouble deciding as well. We ended up getting a portion of a “bûche de Noël” (Yule log) for Christmas. Then, for New Year’s Day, we each enjoyed a marshmallow bear covered in dark chocolate. The pastries in France, even marshmallows, are delightful in that they’re not overly sweet.

      I hope you have a fantastic 2025 as well. It would be lovely if our paths crossed.

      Reply
      1. Darlene Avatar
        Darlene

        Sounds like you made great choices. I would love it if our paths crossed someday. You never know. xo

  4. restlessjo Avatar
    restlessjo

    What a charning place, Tricia. I stood gazing into the patisserie window for the longest time!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Greetings, Jo! We’ve lived here for just about one year and we still regularly gaze in that pâtisserie’s window. Today, we treated ourselves to two dark chocolate marshmallow bears from that shop, which is also a chocolaterie. We’re lucky to have the shop just a short walk away (or perhaps that’s not a good thing because everything always looks so tempting)!

      A very Happy 2025 to you, filled with many promenades on sunny days.

      Reply
      1. restlessjo Avatar
        restlessjo

        That’s a very wicked temptation to have nearby.

  5. Bama Avatar
    Bama

    I love the look of the shops, boutiques, and other small businesses along Rue Nationale. They’re very photogenic. And how nice to see a Lebanese Cedar there! I saw them in the mountains of Lebanon and I remember being awed by the millennia-old trees. Happy New Year to you and Shawn! I wish you a fulfilling year ahead.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Hi Bama, and Happy 2025 to you!

      How special it must have been to see Lebanon’s majestic cedar trees! We saw some beautiful ones on the island of Cyprus. When we first moved to the Loire Valley, I was surprised to see so many Lebanese Cedars in the gardens of the châteaux, etc. It just didn’t seem like they’d thrive in this climate. However, I’ve since learned that the trees do well in this area’s limestone-rich soil. There’s a massive Lebanese Cedar in the nearby city of Tours too, which is more than 200 years old. Imagine the stories it could tell.

      I look forward to reading about your adventures in the coming months.

      Reply
  6. the eternal traveller Avatar
    the eternal traveller

    Hi Tricia. How lovely to see where you are based these days. It’s so pretty and so very different from here where our Christmas Day was hot and sunny. Best wishes to you for 2025.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Hi Carol, nice to hear from you! We haven’t seen much of the sun this winter, so your sunny weather certainly sounds appealing. :)

      Wishing you a very happy 2025!

      Reply