Dreaming of a White Christmas

Château Royal d'Amboise

With only days to go, Amboise might still be lucky enough to have a White Christmas. If not, pop into the Château Royal d'Amboise. It has one. And very pretty it is too. Well worth the visit.

A Note in the Exhibition tells us the charming fact that François I took part in a snowball fight here when he was twenty-seven. Even if his five children, who were growing up here at the time, were too young to take part, they must surely have watched.

To the end of his life, the King, who also grew up in the Château, kept a soft spot for his childhood home and no wonder. It’s beautiful. Fit indeed for a king.

The Note also says François received a cut on his chin which caused a permanent scar. Theories abound in every biography about him of why he grew a beard to hide it, but as Château archivists are Keepers of the François Flame, we can rest assured it was a rogue snowball.

In the Music Room, hanging from the mantelpiece are white satin ballet shoes perhaps a nod to the old French tradition of children leaving shoes filled with carrots for Père Noël's donkey.

In the same room is a lovely portrait of Crown Princess Helene Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, one of Louis-Philippe’s many daughters-in-law. Apt too. It was she who introduced the German Christmas Tree tradition into France.

Some of the wonderful displays were created by the talented team from the famous Patisserie Bigot of Amboise. Their mouth watering goodies are indeed fit for a king.

Christmas is not just for children. How lovely to see the grown ups crank up the ancient music box to listen to the traditional French Christmas carol Il est né, le divin enfant before clambering into Santa’s Sleigh to have their photograph taken as a memento of a lovely day out.

Post by Pamela, photography by Mark.