Clos Lucé is a small, warm brick manor a few minutes from the royal château of Amboise, and it is where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. François I invited him to France in 1516, gave him the manor and a pension, and used to walk to see him through an underground passage, as the story goes. The visit takes in the ground-floor chapel with frescoes attributed to Leonardo's pupils, the kitchens, the great hall, the first-floor bedroom where he died in 1519 and the bedroom of Marguerite de Navarre, and a basement with working models of his machines. In the park behind the house, in season, you can walk among large wooden and metal models of his inventions, from a double-deck bridge to a tank and an Archimedes screw. It is an intimate house rather than a palace, and it makes a good contrast with the grand châteaux nearby. Tickets are cheaper in winter, but the outdoor models and park are partly closed in the colder months, so the interior and the basement models are the heart of a November visit.
Go in knowing what you will see. The house itself is modest and beautifully kept, with period furniture, a room reconstructed as Leonardo's studio and the bedroom where he died, now reconstructed in the style of the time. The chapel next door was built for Anne of Brittany and has frescoes by Leonardo's circle, and the basement holds the models of machines that he sketched, built by modern engineers from his notebooks, many of them working models you can touch.
The park is the second half of the visit and the part most affected by the season. In spring and summer it hosts the large outdoor models, from the bridge to the tank and flying machines, with a pond and paths through gardens. From mid-November much of the park is closed, so the walk is shorter and the outdoor exhibits may be unavailable. If you are visiting in low season, plan for the house, the basement and the exhibitions inside, and give yourself an hour and a half to two hours.
Practical details
Clos Lucé is open every day of the year except 25 December and 1 January, with hours running from nine in the morning to six in the evening in winter. It is a ten to fifteen minute walk from the château royal, uphill, so combine the two in a day with lunch in the old town between them.
A museographic hall with an extra fee tells the story of Leonardo's years in France, and combined tickets are sold with the royal château. Allow extra time with young children, who tend to love the models.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through Leonardo's furnished rooms, the chapel and the basement models, with a park of large machines in season.
Best time
Mid-morning or early afternoon; in summer the park is at its best, while in November the interior is the draw.
How long
An hour and a half to two hours, less in winter when much of the park is closed.
Tips
Check which parts of the park are open for your date, add the museographic hall if you are a Leonardo fan and combine the visit with the royal château on foot.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Leonardo fans and curious children who want to touch working models of his inventions.
- Families
- The basement machines are hands-on and the park is good in summer; younger children may find the interior brief.
- Couples
- A quiet visit in low season, then a long lunch in Amboise.
- Pair with
- The royal château of Amboise, a short walk away, and a Vouvray tasting.
- Time needed
- Two hours, or half a day with the château.
Good questions
Is Clos Lucé open in November?+
Yes, it is open daily except 25 December and 1 January, but much of the park and some outdoor models close from mid-November, so the visit is mainly indoors.
Did Leonardo da Vinci really die here?+
Yes, he died at Clos Lucé in 1519 after three years in France as a guest of François I. His bedroom has been reconstructed as part of the visit.
How far is it from the château of Amboise?+
About ten to fifteen minutes on foot, uphill from the royal château. Combined tickets cover both sites.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes, the working models in the basement and the park in summer are very popular with children. The interior is fairly short, so the models are the draw.
Are the models original?+
No, they are modern reconstructions built from Leonardo's notebook designs, many of them working. They show how he thought rather than what he built.
