Clos Lucé Castle: Leonardo da Vinci's final home
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
An hour from Paris by train, the Château du Clos Lucé takes you in the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci.
It was here, a few hundred meters from the Royal Château of Amboise, that the Italian artist spent the last three years of his life.
Between models and creations, walk in the footsteps of the Renaissance genius and discover an emblematic site of the Loire Valley.
Invited by King Francis I in 1516, Leonardo da Vinci settled at the Clos Lucé, which he returned to from Italy with some of his masterpieces, including the famous Mona Lisa.
He lived and worked there until his death in 1519, surrounded by his notebooks, models, and sketches. It was here that the Italian artist continued his research in fields as diverse as engineering, anatomy, and architecture.
Today, the château faithfully recreates his bedroom, studio, and living spaces, immersing you in the master's daily life.
In the château's basement, you can admire interactive models and some of his most daring inventions in 3D animation.
Don't miss the 12-meter life-size flying machine on display in the museum hall.
After visiting the château, head to the 7-hectare park, a veritable open-air museum.
Follow the fun and educational trail, where some twenty life-size models from Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and some forty translucent canvases installed in the trees are on display.
From swing bridges to flying machines, discover the incredible machines of the Tuscan master.
It's impossible not to be amazed by such a spectacle!
📍Access: 2 rue du Clos Lucé, 37400 Amboise, a 15-minute walk from the center of Amboise
⌚ Hours: Open all year round except December 25th and January 1st
January: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
February - June: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July - August: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
September - October: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
November - December: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
💶 Prices: From €12. Free for children under 7.
Less than 30 minutes from Amboise, the Best Western L'Artist welcomes you on a quiet side street, 300 meters from Tours train station.
You'll appreciate the hotel's contemporary design, which pays homage to the cinema.
Each of our modern and cozy rooms offers all the comforts of a four-star hotel, including air conditioning and a private bathroom.
To start the day off right, several breakfast options are available to suit your tastes.
You can also take a relaxing break in the lounge bar to share a friendly drink.
Discover all the hotel's services for an optimal stay.
It was here, a few hundred meters from the Royal Château of Amboise, that the Italian artist spent the last three years of his life.
Between models and creations, walk in the footsteps of the Renaissance genius and discover an emblematic site of the Loire Valley.
Immerse yourself in the world of Leonardo da Vinci
The final resting place of a visionary master
Invited by King Francis I in 1516, Leonardo da Vinci settled at the Clos Lucé, which he returned to from Italy with some of his masterpieces, including the famous Mona Lisa.
He lived and worked there until his death in 1519, surrounded by his notebooks, models, and sketches. It was here that the Italian artist continued his research in fields as diverse as engineering, anatomy, and architecture.
Today, the château faithfully recreates his bedroom, studio, and living spaces, immersing you in the master's daily life.
In the château's basement, you can admire interactive models and some of his most daring inventions in 3D animation.
Don't miss the 12-meter life-size flying machine on display in the museum hall.
An open-air museum park
After visiting the château, head to the 7-hectare park, a veritable open-air museum.
Follow the fun and educational trail, where some twenty life-size models from Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and some forty translucent canvases installed in the trees are on display.
From swing bridges to flying machines, discover the incredible machines of the Tuscan master.
It's impossible not to be amazed by such a spectacle!
Practical Information
📍Access: 2 rue du Clos Lucé, 37400 Amboise, a 15-minute walk from the center of Amboise
⌚ Hours: Open all year round except December 25th and January 1st
January: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
February - June: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July - August: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
September - October: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
November - December: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
💶 Prices: From €12. Free for children under 7.
Your four-star hotel in downtown Tours
Less than 30 minutes from Amboise, the Best Western L'Artist welcomes you on a quiet side street, 300 meters from Tours train station.
You'll appreciate the hotel's contemporary design, which pays homage to the cinema.
Each of our modern and cozy rooms offers all the comforts of a four-star hotel, including air conditioning and a private bathroom.
To start the day off right, several breakfast options are available to suit your tastes.
You can also take a relaxing break in the lounge bar to share a friendly drink.
Discover all the hotel's services for an optimal stay.
