Château du Clos Lucé - Parc Leonardo da Vinci - Enfant

Price: €16.30 (retail price: €17.30) Imagine a palace delicately perched above the Loire, and picture gardens suspended between heaven and earth... It’s no surprise that Amboise was one of the favorite sites of the kings of France as they transformed their country during the Renaissance. Charles VIII and Francis I, Leonardo da Vinci, and the iconic Queen Anne of Brittany are familiar figures here. Even today, the view from the castle’s balconies is breathtaking! With a 360° view, you’ll discover landscapes listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, you can also explore the monument’s history through augmented reality using the HistoPad (included with your admission ticket). This nature-filled site, a haven of peace for birds, is an LPO sanctuary.  

Price: €19.00 (public price: €20) In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci accepted the invitation of Francis I and moved to the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, where he worked on numerous projects for the King. From Rome he brought his notebooks and three of his major works: the Mona Lisa, the Saint Anne and the Saint John the Baptist, now in the Louvre. Prolific and inspired, he worked as an engineer, architect and stage director, organising sumptuous festivities for the court. On 2 May 1519, he died in his bedroom. The house, its park - a veritable open-air museum - and the Leonardo da Vinci Painter and Architect Galleries invite you to discover the many facets of this genius through his restored workshops, models of his inventions and an immersive show presenting his 17 masterpieces...

We will start our day with the visit of of the Clos Lucé - a royal present from Francis the 1st to Leonardo da Vinci, where he spent his last 3 years of his life. You will enter his privacy as you roam his study, and will discover a large collection of models based on his sketches, as well as his bedchamber where he took his last breath at the age of 67. Our second stop will be the Royal Chateau of Amboise - which was Francis the 1st’s main residence. With its Gothic and Renaissance styles, the chateau will make you fall in love with its panoramic view on the valley. you must not forget about the St. Hubert’s chapel, where Leonardo da Vinci rests in peace. After the lunch break, we will get back to the Cher valley in order to visit the Chateau of Chenonceau, also known as the « Ladies’ Chateau » which was embellished by famous women, such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. This elegant structure built on the river will mesmerise you with its unique Renaissance architecture, furniture and gardens that will make you daydream.