Clos Lucé

Clos Lucé is the brick-and-stone manor in Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. It stands a few hundred metres from the Château d'Amboise, linked to it by a short street, and it was once a lesser royal residence. The building dates from the fifteenth century, and Charles VIII bought it in 1490, using it as a country house for the royal family. Anne de Bretagne, his queen, had a small oratory built here, and the frescoes in that chapel are attributed to followers of Leonardo.

Leonardo arrived in 1516 at the invitation of François I, who had admired his work in Italy and gave him a pension and the use of the manor. The painter was in his sixties, and he brought a few paintings with him, including the Mona Lisa, which was part of the baggage of his last journey. King François I was a frequent visitor and is said to have enjoyed long conversations with the artist, who took the title of first painter, engineer and architect of the king. Leonardo died at Clos Lucé on 2 May 1519, and he was buried in the grounds of the royal château nearby, where the Chapelle Saint-Hubert is traditionally linked with his tomb.

The visit starts in the house, where several rooms have been restored and furnished to show how Leonardo might have lived. You can see his bedroom, the study where he drew and wrote, the great kitchen and the rooms in which he met the king. The cellars hold models of some of his machines and a presentation of his scientific interests. The outdoor part is just as popular. The gardens and the park hold large-scale reconstructions of more than forty of Leonardo's inventions, built from his drawings, including a flying machine, a paddle boat, a bridge and several mechanical devices, many of which visitors may try for themselves. There is also a trail among the trees that includes scenes inspired by his paintings.

The site suits families because of the interactive models, and children's booklets are often available at the ticket office. The visit takes about two hours, and most of it is outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes. Opening hours change with the seasons, so check before you go. The house is part of the Loire Valley landscape listed by UNESCO.

The manor is an easy walk from the Château d'Amboise, and many visitors combine the two. After the visit, the Rue Nationale has cafés and shops, and the Église Saint-Denis and the Maison du Vieux Amboise are close by. It suits anyone curious about the Renaissance, engineering and the life of one of its great figures.