Église Saint-Florentin, Gothic church near Loire River, Amboise, France

Église Saint-Florentin is a Gothic church in Amboise near the Loire River. The building features three naves separated by stone columns decorated with floral capitals, and a bell tower topped with a Renaissance dome.

Louis XI had the church built so that the castle chapel would no longer serve as the parish church, fearing disease; letters patent of 7 June 1473 granted part of the salt tax for four years, and the church was consecrated in 1484. Originally named Notre-Dame-en-Grève after the sandy Loire bank, it took the name Saint-Florentin in the 19th century after the royal collegiate church inside the castle was demolished. The bell tower roof was remade in Renaissance style in the early 16th century, and in 1876 the wooden vault was replaced with stone.

The church was first called Notre-Dame-en-Grève, after the sandy stretch of the Loire where it stood. In the 19th century, after the royal collegiate church of Saint-Florentin inside the castle was demolished, it took that name. The bell was given by the Duke of Choiseul.

The building serves as both a place of worship and a cultural venue, so check ahead if a service or event is happening. Allow time to walk through the three naves and examine the statues and architectural details at your own pace.

The church was first called Notre-Dame-en-Grève, after the sandy stretch of the Loire where it stood. It took the name Saint-Florentin in the 19th century, after the royal collegiate church of that name inside the castle was demolished; that lost building held Leonardo da Vinci's tomb, whose exact spot was already unknown before its 1807 demolition.