Chateau du Clos Luce castle, Amboise, France.

© s74/Shutterstock

Le Clos Lucé

Top choice in Amboise


It was at the invitation of François I that Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), aged 64, took up residence in this grand manor house, built in 1471. An admirer of the Italian Renaissance, the French monarch named Da Vinci 'first painter, engineer and king's architect', and the Italian spent his time here sketching, tinkering and dreaming up ingenious contraptions.

Fascinating scale models of 40 of his many inventions, some of which kids can climb on or operate, are on display inside the house and around its lovely 7-hectare gardens, where you can picnic and walk along a meandering stream. Visitors also visit furnished ateliers that look as they did when Da Vinci worked and painted here and the bedroom where he drew his last breath, on 2 May 1519. The 500th anniversary of Da Vinci's death will be commemorated in 2019. L’Auberge du Prieuré serves Renaissance-style lunches (closed in winter).

Brochures are available in 14 languages, or you can download a free mobile app from the website. Crowds can get intense on holiday weekends and in summer; mornings tend to be quieter. To avoid standing in line, buy your tickets beforehand online or at the Amboise tourist office.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Amboise attractions

1. Château Gaillard

0.34 MILES

The most exciting Loire château to open to visitors in years, Gaillard is the earliest expression of the Italian Renaissance in France. Begun in 1496, the…

2. Château Royal d’Amboise

0.38 MILES

Perched atop a rocky escarpment above town, Amboise's castle was a favoured retreat for all of France's Valois and Bourbon kings. Only a few of the…

3. Pagode de Chanteloup

1.67 MILES

Three kilometres south of Amboise, this seven-storey, vaguely Asian 'pagoda' (44m) was built between 1775 and 1778, when blending classical French…

4. Château de Chenonceau

6.93 MILES

Spanning the languid Cher River atop a graceful arched bridge, Chenonceau is one of France's most elegant châteaux. It's hard not to be moved and…

5. Château Moncontour

9.77 MILES

This wine estate has a wine museum and offers tastings; the ridge-top château is not open to the public.

6. Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

10.06 MILES

Set on a strategic bluff with sweeping views along the Loire, Chaumont-sur-Loire is known for three things: the château itself, which has a medieval…

7. Caves Monmousseau

10.61 MILES

Perched quietly beneath an imposing 12th-century donjon (keep), the town of Montrichard, 9km east of Chenonceau, is a perfect spot for a fizzy break. Just…

8. Château de Montpoupon

12.94 MILES

Idyllically situated amid rolling countryside near Céré-la-Ronde, this turreted château, furnished by the family in the late 19th and early 20th centuries…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "france/the-loire/amboise/attractions/le-clos-luce/a/poi-sig/1196839/359307",
      "destination": "Amboise",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "France",
      "city": "Amboise",
      "position": "superzone"
    }