Travels with Tricia

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Living “La Vie en Rose” in Amboise, France

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Tricia A. Mitchell

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The coiffeuse in our neighborhood hair salon softly sang “La Vie en Rose” as I darted past her open door. Though the hair stylist didn’t know it, her singing created the perfect soundtrack as I set off to admire a pair of nearby cherry trees’ blossoms before the sun set.

France’s Loire Valley gets its fair share of rain during the spring months, but there were no fluffy clouds to be seen in the blue sky above the town of Amboise. Swallows—or perhaps swifts—jubilantly flew overhead as I approached the front of the Château Royal d’Amboise.

A few petals fell from the branches, creating a natural pink confetti. I’d heard that rain was forecasted in the coming days, so I felt grateful to have a chance to see the flowers before the trees were bare.

Later that day, Shawn and I headed out for an evening stroll to see the cherry trees. Thanks to the floodlights that illuminate the castle by night, the blossoms were still visible, even in the darkness.

Most of the time, when we walk by the castle, we hone in on its intricately carved windows, its gargoyles, and even the rugged pock marks from World War Two. But tonight, the delicate pink blooms took center stage.

As we turned around and headed back home, we passed Franck, the talented accordionist who plays most nights during warm-weather months. He was playing an Edith Piaf tune that wasn’t “La Vie en Rose,” but still quintessentially French.

In the photo on the left, two trees bearing pink blossoms are visible at the foot of the Château d'Amboise in France. The sky is a clear blue and the lawn is a vibrant green. In the photo on the right, the close up of a branch filled with pink cherry blossoms.
The Château d’Amboise majestically overlooks the Loire River, boasting a blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Throughout history, the castle housed an array of prominent figures, including Charles VIII, François I, and Leonardo da Vinci, who spent his final years nearby and was interred in its chapel. During World War II, the château was occupied by German forces.
Close-up of the Minimes Tower that adorns the front façade of the Amboise Castle. Two gargoyles decorate the tower. A branch with pink cherry blossom blooms frames the tower.
Blossoms frame the Tour des Minimes, one of the two cavalry towers that adorn the Château d’Amboise. The towers were constructed with a ramp inside, which allowed riders on horseback to access the castle more efficiently. Both the Tour des Minimes and the Tour Heurtault (located on Place Michel Debré) were constructed in the 1490s.
A close up of a cherry trees branch filled with pink flowers and a few green leaves.
Rain was forecasted in the coming days, so I wanted to be sure to enjoy the ephemeral flowers while they were at their peak.
In the picture on the left, a single cherry blossom tree stands at the foot of the Amboise Castle, whose stone wall is visible. On the right, the intertwined trunks of two cherry blossom trees on the lawn in front of the Château d'Amboise.
Left: The Loire River-facing side of the Château d’Amboise. Right: With their intertwined trunks, this pair of cherry trees seems to be dancing.
In the photo on the left and right, cherry blossom branches are illuminated by floodlights after darkness. The Amboise Castle is lit up with lavender and pink floodlights.
After nightfall, Amboise’s castle is illuminated with soft hues. During an evening stroll, Shawn and I appreciated how the castle’s lavender-colored floodlights complemented the pink blooms.
In the photo on the left, a man stands next to a gate covered with purple wisteria flowers. He is pulling a shopping trolley. On the right, a couple sits underneath a redbud tree with bright pink blossoms near the the Amboise Castle.
Left: Though this doesn’t fit with the “Amboise in pink” theme, I couldn’t resist sharing a photo of Shawn on a springtime trip to the supermarché, with aromatic wisteria (glycine) overhead. Right: Shawn and I pause next to the Château d’Amboise’s other cavalry tower, the Tour Heurtault. I’m not sure what kind of tree this is, but I’m curious. If you know, please mention the name in the comments.

Where in the World?

  • Spring is a wonderful time to visit the castles of the Loire Valley. I took these photos near the Château d’Amboise in May, when these cherry blossoms were at their peak. Other castles that we’ve enjoyed visiting in the springtime include the Château de Cheverny (known for its magnificent gardens) and the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (home to a renowned annual garden festival).
  • 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 to 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.

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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23 responses to “Living “La Vie en Rose” in Amboise, France”

  1. Annie Berger Avatar
    Annie Berger

    Thank you for the lovely photos of a a slice of life in the Loire Valley. Magnifique!

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

      Bonjour Annie, I’m glad you enjoyed this glimpse of what Amboise looks like during the spring months. I’m “tickled pink” to be living here!

      Reply
      1. Annie Berger Avatar
        Annie Berger

        I’m sure you must be! How and when did you come to live in this area of France?

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Ever since I was 14 years old, it’s been my dream to live in France. That’s when I started studying French in high school. Growing up, I corresponded with French pen pals. My parents also hosted a French exchange student at our home for 10 months. We were fortunate to have the chance to visit Pierre and his family in France a few times, and we’re still in touch. I consider them my French family.

        My husband, Shawn, and I weren’t sure where to settle in France, because there are so many beautiful and historic regions we wanted to explore more deeply. We had visited the Loire Valley in 2010 and thought it was stunning. So, once we had our long-stay French visas in hand, we decided to revisit the Loire Valley as a possible home base. We’ve been here for about a year and a half.

      3. Annie Berger Avatar
        Annie Berger

        Tricia,

        I’m glad you and Shawn found your ‘happy place’ and are now living out your dream. I so rarely hear of British expats living elsewhere that I was curious how you ended up in Amboise. Thank you for sharing your story.

        Annie

      4. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Rebonjour Annie,

        Shawn and I actually hail from Canada and the United States, but we have some lovely friends from the UK and don’t mind if we’re mistaken for being Brits. :)

  2. Merrill Avatar
    Merrill

    Looks like a redbud tree. I love spring flowers!!!

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

      Hi Merrill, yes, I think the tree in the picture at the bottom is definitely a redbud tree. I’m happy to have learned what type it is. Thanks so much for pointing that out!

      Reply
  3. restlessjo Avatar
    restlessjo

    Such a fabulous sight! The colours are lovely, Tricia xx

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

      Hi Jo, the color palette for the buildings in this part of France is often neutral with its limestone and grey hues. It makes a lovely backdrop for natural splashes of color like this.

      Reply
      1. restlessjo Avatar
        restlessjo

        It brings it alive xx

  4. the eternal traveller Avatar
    the eternal traveller

    We saw magnificent cherry trees in full bloom in Japan earlier this year so I can understand your excitement in seeing these lovely trees, Tricia. And they are in such a gorgeous location too.

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

      Hi Carol, what a dream to see Japan’s cherry trees in bloom! My husband and I hope to make it to Japan someday soon — I’d love to visit during the springtime. Was it challenging planning your trip around peak blossom season? I’m guessing hotels are in high demand? Also, is climate change making it difficult to know when the trees will be in full bloom?

      Reply
      1. the eternal traveller Avatar
        the eternal traveller

        We stayed longer in just a few places rather than travel all over the place and we did southern Japan so the further south we went the more blossom we saw. We had no trouble booking accommodation about four months before our trip. And from what we learned the trees can be unpredictable and I doubt climate change causes that. If there’s a storm or big winds the blossoms fall off fast. You can look up predictors onlone which say when the trees will be in flower according to how long winter temperatures last. I think if you’re there around the middle of March to middle of April you will see trees somewhere in flower. One place I would highly recommend is the Hakone region, part of Fuji National Park. You can do a day trip from Tokyo but we stayed in Gora for 6 nights and we were able to see all of the region. Gora is tiny and Hakone-Yumoto is probably a better place to stay, with more places to eat at night. Do some research and you’ll soon know what you want to do.

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Many thanks for taking the time to share those tips for seeing Japan’s cherry blossoms, Carol! We don’t have plans to visit Japan just yet, but it is definitely on our radar. My husband speaks a bit of Japanese and spent several months in Japan during his college days. You mentioned having spent more time in a few places. That kind of “slow travel” is how we prefer to explore, too.

  5. the eternal traveller Avatar
    the eternal traveller

    And I just found and followed you on Instagram too. :)

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

      Merci, Carol! :)

      Reply
  6. belocchio Avatar
    belocchio

    It has been such a delight following you two on this incredible journey. I ‘ve had so much enjoyment arm-chair travelling with you. This morning I returned again and again to the photographs of the cherry blossoms and Amboise’s castle. They were like a fairy-tale. and I found myself looking for Rapunzel, her long hair en-tangled in the flowers. Thank you giving me this day of pure enjoyment. Virginia

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

      Bonjour chère Virginia, how nice to hear from you! Shawn and I regularly meander past Amboise’s castle at sunset, so next time, I’ll be on the lookout for Rapunzel. :) However, given our current canicule (heatwave), I suspect Rapunzel won’t be making an appearance in the tower until after dark. It’s certainly been a hot summer. Thank you, as always, for your delightful messages!

      Reply
  7. Darlene Avatar
    Darlene

    The cherry blossoms are striking by the picturesque castle. I love this post. I like the wisteria as well. What a charming place to live. xo

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

      Bonjour Darlene, spring is a splendid time of year in this corner of France because the châteaux of the Loire Valley have magnificent gardens! A castle several minutes away from us by train (Chaumont-sur-Loire) hosts a garden festival every year. Landscape designers create beautiful gardens for this competition, and the festival runs for 6 months. The Loire Valley is well worth a visit (perhaps even for your “Amanda in…” series).

      But, as you can see from these pictures, one needn’t go to a castle to encounter wisteria. Incidentally, I hear some strains of it are rather aggressive with other plants and trees. Wisteria sure is beautiful, though!

      Reply
  8. Dalo Collis Avatar
    Dalo Collis

    Great to read and catch up with what you and Shawn are up to. Stunning photos, they bring the magic of springtime in Amboise to life. The Château d’Amboise, surrounded by clouds of pink blossoms and soft evening lights, would make for a perfect destination – especially to be inspired and experience the Loire Valley in bloom! Wish you both continued safe travels and great adventures!

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

      Greetings Dalo, indeed, ever since moving to France, Shawn and I haven’t had much time to share the day-to-day joys and weekend explorations. Since the age of 14, I’ve dreamed of moving to France, and here we are. I feel immensely grateful to have this opportunity. Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful autumn!

      Reply