During our stay in the Loire Valley we of course took the time to visit some Loire castles. Today I'm not going to talk to you about Chambord or Chennonceau, but about a much smaller but world-famous castle: the Château du Clos Lucé. Located in Amboise, this castle has the distinction of having been the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, author, among other things, of the painting "La Joconde".
In this article we will tell you about the history of this magical place and give you tips for visiting the very last home of the Italian inventor. Le Clos Lucé is a place not to be missed during a stay in the Loire Valley. His visit will teach you more about the life of Leonardo da Vinci and his many inventions.
Summary:
- The history of the Château du Clos Lucé
- Visit of Clos Lucé
- Practical advice for visiting Clos Lucé
- My opinion on the visit of Clos Lucée
Prepare your visit and buy your entry for Clos Lucé and its gardens in advance and avoid the queues. Buy your ticket
The history of the Château du Clos Lucé
The history of the Château du Clos Lucé dates back to the 1471th century, more precisely in XNUMX, the date of the end of construction of what was then only a stronghold of the Château d'Amboise.
It was in 1490 that King Charles VIII bought the castle from Etienne Le Loup in order to transform the fortress into a castle, which would be used as a summer residence for the kings of France. Charles VIII made various arrangements in the Clos Lucé, in particular for his wife, Anne de Bretagne.
From 1509 to 1515 it was Charles IV of Alençon who made it his main residence before being sold to Louise de Savoie, mother of François Ier.
It is from this moment that the history of this place takes a completely different turn than a simple summer residence and acquires the notoriety that it has today.
It was in 1516, 1 year after his coronation, that François I invited the famous Italian painter – architect – engineer Leonard De Vinci to settle in Clos Lucé.
At the age of 64, Leonard de Vinci, no longer recognized at his fair value in Rome and especially in the cold with the Medici who preferred Raphael or Michelangelo, accepted the invitation of Francis I. The latter will be able to recognize his talent by naming him "First Painter, Engineer and Architect of the King".
Leonardo da Vinci therefore crosses the Alps to reach Amboise from Rome accompanied by two of his disciples, his servant but above all a few paintings including “The Mona Lisa”.
François I offers him to settle in Le Clos where he spent his last three years and where he created many works.
After his death, the castle changed owners several times and became the possession, among others, of the Amboise family who carried out numerous modifications and redecorated the building and the gardens.
It became the property of the Saint Bris family in 1855. Le Clos Lucé was listed as a historical monument in 1862 and opened to the public in 1954.
In 2017, redevelopment work was undertaken to give the place an image as close as possible to what Clos Lucé was when Leonardo da Vinci lived there. This work led to a complaint for vandalism due to the classification of the castle as a historical monument.
Visit of Clos Lucé
- Where to buy tickets to visit Clos Lucé?
- Course of the visit
- How long to visit Clos Lucé?
- Guided tour of Clos Lucé
- Visit Clos Lucé with children
- Entry fee
Where to buy tickets to visit Clos Lucé?
Now let's get to the heart of the matter: a visit to Clos Lucé. First of all, a quick word about tickets, these are either available at the entrance to the castle or can be booked online. In order to avoid the queues at the entrance to the Château, I strongly advise you to buy your ticket in advance online. The price is identical to that practiced at the entrance of the castle.
Course of the visit
The visit to Clos Lucé is divided into two parts: the first takes place in the castle itself; as for the second, it takes place in the gardens of the castle.
Visit of the Château du Clos Lucé
The tour of the castle includes 8 rooms, 3 on the 1st floor, 4 on the ground floor and one in the basement.
- The gallery:
The visit begins on the first floor, at the level of the emblematic square tower, the only element that can make us think of the primary function of the castle: a fortified residence. The gallery then leads us into the second room, Leonardo da Vinci's bedroom. - Leonardo da Vinci's room:
Place of death of Leonardo da Vinci, this room has been furnished as at the time. From the bedroom window, you can see the Château d'Amboise. - Marguerite de Navarre's room:
Sister of François I, Marguerite de Navarre lived in Clos Lucé during her childhood, with her brother. - The oratory of Anne of Brittany:
This piece was commissioned by Charles VIII for his wife, Anne de Bretagne who lived in these places before the arrival of Leonardo da Vinci. It was, among other things, created so that Anne of Brittany could come and meditate there following the loss of her children. - Leonardo da Vinci's workshops:
There are various pieces that take us back to the time of the famous painter. Easel, workbenches, tools or even virtual reconstructions teach us more about the daily life of Leonardo da Vinci. - The great Renaissance room:
The main room where Leonardo da Vinci receives his guests including his friend François I. - The kitchen :
In this room we learn more about Mathurine, Leonardo da Vinci's cook, to whom he bequeathed his coat on his death. - Model rooms:
In the basement are the model rooms. Four rooms where you can discover, in miniature, models of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions. Built with materials of the time, the models were made by IBM using sketches by Leonardo da Vinci. 3D animations show you how these military, civil engineering, hydraulic or mechanical machines work.
Visit of the Clos Lucé gardens
Now let's move on to the second part of our visit, the castle gardens. The sumptuous gardens are spread over several hectares: “Leonardo Da Vinci Park”.
While strolling in the park, you will discover some 20 giant, mobile models corresponding to the models seen in the castle. Most are in operation, in particular the hydraulic machines operating thanks to the effects of water.
We also discover war machines, flying or floating machines or even civil engineering objects such as bridges.
Raise your eyes to the sky and discover different paintings by the famous painter.
In the middle of the park is the Halle Eiffel, a museum hall dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
How long to visit Clos Lucé?
By taking your time, the visit of the castle and the gardens will take you about 2 hours.
Count 1 hour of visit for the castle to which you can add a second hour for the gardens. Note that it is possible to eat or have a drink in the castle gardens.
Guided tour of Clos Lucé
If you wish to opt for a guided tour of Clos Lucé, be aware that visits are organized, guided by a guide speaker from the castle.
The one-hour small-group tour focuses on the castle itself and the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci.
During the Covid-19 period, visits take place exceptionally outside, they are dedicated to the castle garden.
The guided tour costs €3,90 in addition to your entrance ticket.
This option can only be taken on site and cannot be reserved in advance.
At certain times, such as during the holidays, costumed visits are planned.
Visit Clos Lucé with children
If you are visiting the estate with children, note that it is possible to obtain free notebooks for children, the "Carnet de l'Inventeur" at the entrance to the park.
They aim to make the visit more fun for the youngest, from 7 to 12 years old.
Entry fee
The prices are different depending on the time when you visit the place.
- High season runs from April 1 to November 15
- The low season, meanwhile, runs from November 16 to March 31.
| Price per pers. | Low season | High season |
| Normal | €14,50 | €17 |
| Large families and job seekers | €12,50 | €15,50 |
| Child (7-18 years old) | €11,50 | €12 |
| Less than 7 years | Free | Free |
| Student fee | €11,50 | €12,50 |
Practical advice for visiting Clos Lucé
Here are some practical tips for visiting the place. Access, price, reservation, we tell you everything.
- Getting to the Château du Clos Lucé
- Where to buy tickets for Clos Lucé
- Parking around Clos Lucé
- Where to sleep around Clos Lucé?
- What to see in the surroundings?
Getting to the Château du Clos Lucé
By car
Le Clos Lucé is located in the town of Amboise, between the towns of Tours and Blois.
The city is accessible by car via two highways, the A10 and the A85.
To reach the city of Amboise by car, you will need:
By train
If you live further away, or if you don't want to come to the region by car, the train may be the best solution.
The city of Amboise has its TER station and allows you to reach Amboise from Paris in 2 hours from Austerlitz station. The TER station is located 2km from the city center and a free shuttle takes you there.
If you come from further away, then the TGV will certainly be the right option.
The nearest TGV station is the "St Pierre des Corps" station located in the city of Tours.
From Tours it will be easy to reach Amboise, either by TER, in 17 minutes, or by opting for a rental car. This last solution will, of course, be retained if you plan to take a road trip in the surroundings and thus take the opportunity to visit the castles of the Loire.
Where to buy tickets for Clos Lucé
Two solutions to buy your entrance tickets, the first is to buy your tickets in advance and online on one of the platforms offering official tickets for the Château du Clos Lucé.
The other solution is to go directly to the site on the day and time of your visit. Be careful during busy periods, it is possible that there will be a long wait at the entrance. Purchasing online will allow you to benefit from skip-the-line access (without waiting at the entrance).
Parking around Clos Lucé
Several solutions concerning parking around Clos Lucé are possible. There is a private paying car park close to the castle at about 300m. This car park is the closest.
Two other free car parks are located nearby: the Mail Saint-Thomas car park, Place Richelieu, and the Tanneurs car park.
Where to sleep around Clos Lucé?
If you are looking for accommodation near Clos Lucé, here are three good addresses. You can find more on Booking.com or AirBnb.com.
The Lys Pavilion
Certainly one of the most luxurious establishments around. Located in a real castle of the Loire, the hotel "Le Pavillon Des Lys" welcomes you in an astonishing setting, richly decorated and offers spacious rooms. Le Clos Lucé or the Château d'Amboise will be within walking distance from your accommodation. Decoration, Location See prices
Pray Castle
Located 2km from the city center of Amboise, this real castle welcomes you to its astonishing estate. Spacious rooms with original decoration with four-poster beds, you can enjoy the restaurant of the castle but also, in fine weather, the swimming pool. Service, Decoration See prices
Cottage of the small mass
500m from Clos Lucé, opt for a gîte. With a large garden, this 2-bedroom cottage offers all the amenities expected of a top-of-the-range accommodation. The setting and the location are the number one assets of this establishment. Location, Quiet Check rates
What to see in the surroundings?
If you spend several days in the region then do not stop at the visit of Clos Lucé but take advantage of this opportunity to discover the surroundings.
Amboise
Being located in the city of Amboise, it goes without saying that you should not miss the essentials of this city. Here is a brief summary of things to do in Amboise:
- The Royal Castle of Amboise
- The Park of mini-castles
- The Pagoda of Chanteloup
- The large Aquarium of Touraine
Blois
Located 30 minutes from Amboise, do not hesitate to go to Blois. The things to visit are diverse and very interesting, both for the older and the younger. Here is a non-exhaustive list of visits to do in Blois:
Tours
Also located 30 minutes from Amboise and its famous Clos Lucé, you can go to the charming city of Tours! Combining history, culture and art, you will discover a city with a very pretty historic heart with many things to visit:
- Saint-Gatien Cathedral
- Place Jean Jaurès where the town hall and the courthouse are located
- The Charlemagne Tower
- The castle of Tours
- Museums: Fine Arts and Natural History
The castles of the Loire
Impossible to go to the Loire Valley without visiting some Loire castles. Admittedly, Clos Lucé is one of them, but castles like Chambord, Chenonceau, Cheverny and Villandry are also worth a look.
My opinion on the visit of Clos Lucé
Le Clos Lucé is for me an essential visit to the region and that in more ways than one. If you are discovering the Loire Valley and its castles for the first time, you will see that Clos Lucé is totally different. Even if the visit of the main castles of the valley such as Chenonceau, Chambord or Villandry remain unavoidable, that of the castle of Clos Lucé will have nothing to do. The castle is much smaller and above all lively! The rooms are still furnished and you can easily imagine the life that could have taken place there at the time.
The visit is particularly instructive, we first discover the miniatures of the inventions, their operation before discovering the sumptuous garden with these same inventions in real size. All this gives meaning to this unmissable visit. I can only advise you to visit the Château du Clos Lucé during your stay in the region.
