Le Pavillon des Lys

Le Pavillon des Lys is an hôtel particulier built in 1703 in the historic centre of Amboise, on rue d'Orange, a few minutes' walk from the Royal Château and Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci's last home. Since 2004 the house has been a four-star hotel with around ten rooms, set across the main building, a cottage opposite and a few independent ground-floor units.

Inside, the panelling, marble fireplaces, chandeliers and period parquet have been kept; the ground floor holds the lounges, the breakfast room and the spiral staircase. Around the building are courtyards and a garden of about 1,600 m² with outdoor tables, as well as private parking that is locked at night, something rare in central Amboise.

The house is looked after by a small reception team; check-in is from 3 pm to 10 pm and check-out by 11 am. On request, guests can find a welcome in their room on arrival, with a bottle of Touraine sparkling wine and sweets, and twin beds or a baby cot can be arranged.

Private parking is free and there is a storage room for bicycles, useful for anyone riding the Loire à Vélo. The hotel is entirely non-smoking.

The Tradition rooms, on the third floor of the main house, measure 20 m² and have a queen-size bed and a glimpse of the Royal Château. The Comfort rooms, in the cottage facing the house, have a king-size bed and a small sitting area with a sofa on a mezzanine. The Junior Suite (45 m², second floor, town side) and the Suite Terrasse (35 m², with a private terrace overlooking the château and the garden) have bathrooms with both bath and shower; the Suite Lodge is a 40 m² independent unit at the back, with its own small garden and terrace.

All rooms have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a safe, bathrobes and free Wi-Fi. There is no lift, so guests with limited mobility should choose a ground-floor room.

The hotel has no restaurant open to the public. Breakfast is a buffet served in the breakfast room or, in fine weather, in the courtyard: fruit juices, cold meats and cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, apple compote, baguettes and pastries from a local bakery, and home-made cakes and biscuits.

For guests who would rather stay in, there is a room service of cooked dishes and local wines, available at any time. For dinner, the centre of Amboise, with its bistros and restaurants along the Loire, is a few minutes' walk away.

Amboise is one of the royal towns of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site: the Royal Château overlooks the river and the old town, and less than a kilometre away is Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Château Gaillard and the market streets are also within walking distance of the hotel.

By car, the Pagode de Chanteloup is under 10 minutes away, Chenonceau about 20, Tours half an hour, Blois and Cheverny 35 to 40 minutes and Chambord about 50. The vineyards of Touraine and Vouvray surround Amboise.