Amboise

Amboise is a major hub of the Loire and one of the most popular towns along the river, site of Leonardo da Vinci's final home, crowned with a royal château, and jammed with bustling markets and plenty of hotels and restaurants. On hot summer days, however, the plethora of tour buses turns the Renaissance town into a carbon monoxide nightmare. So why come? The main château is soaked in history (and blood), while Leonardo's very pretty Clos-Lucé mansion is a must-do on any Val de Loire itinerary.