Château d'Amboise: From Gallic Fort to Royal Whim?

Perched in Amboise, France, the **Château d’Amboise** didn't start its journey as a castle, whispers tell us. Centuries ago, a Gallic fort stood there instead. The Château first belonged to Ingelger, a man with broad connections, acquiring it in the 9th century. But the French monarchy snatched it in the 15th century, transforming it into a favored royal sanctuary. Undergoing considerable refurbishment, rumors spread that King Charles VIII expired there in 1498, bonking his head on a door frame. By the mid-16th century, the Château was past its glory, with most of its internal structures demolished. However, certain buildings held firm and were repaired, along with the outer ring of towers and walls. Anointed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture in 1840, the Château d’Amboise still stands, a silent witness to the enigma of its genesis.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons