Le Clos Lucé Leonardo da Vinci's final resting place

At the age of 64, Leonardo da Vinci embarked on his final journey. At the invitation of Francis I, he left Rome and crossed the Alps in the autumn of 1516. In leather saddlebags, he took with him what was most precious to him: his notebooks and sketches, as well as three major works, now housed in the Louvre Museum: The Virgin, Child Jesus and Saint Anne; Saint John the Baptist; and the famous Mona Lisa.

Appointed “first painter, engineer and architect to the king”, he settled at the Château du Clos Lucé for the last three years of his life. It was here that he designed astonishing automatons for royal festivals, drew up plans for the Romorantin palace to house the court, drew up a project to drain the Sologne region, and inspired the double-revolution staircase for the Château de Chambord… He worked tirelessly on hydraulic, architectural, philosophical, anatomical and botanical works.

In the intimacy of the Italian master

Since 1954, the Saint Bris family has put all its energy into reviving the spirit of the Tuscan genius here. Mission accomplished! In the pink brick and tufa stone residence, visitors take a leap back in time and discover the intimacy of Leonardo da Vinci: the Renaissance hall where he received distinguished guests, the bedroom where he died on May 2, 1519, the kitchen with its large fireplace by which he warmed himself on winter evenings, his workshops…

And a curiosity not to be missed: the first few meters of the underground passageway linking Le Clos Lucé to the royal chateau of Amboise (where Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb is located) are still visible. It is said that François I often used this secret gallery to visit the man he called, with respect and affection, “my father”.

Le Clos Lucé reveals many facets of Leonardo da Vinci’s life and work. For art and history buffs, the Leonardo da Vinci and France exhibition retraces the links forged between the artist and three monarchs: Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I. The exhibition-event traces the genesis and evolution of three Leonardo masterpieces, from Italy to the Louvre, via Clos Lucé.

Aeroplane, automobile, helicopter, tank… A collection of 40 models, based on Leonardo da Vinci’s original drawings, is on display in four basement rooms. These creative marvels are explained virtually on six 3D screens. This educational and entertaining tour continues outside, in the wooded park. Young and old alike can operate some twenty giant machines that are way ahead of their time: movable bridges, flying machines, paddlewheels… Along the way, 40 giant translucent canvases illustrate this protean work, while eight sound terminals comment on the fabulous inventions of a visionary mind.

Another universe: Leonardo’s Garden, a one-hectare discovery trail. Here, you can stroll among the trees so dear to the artist and details recreated in the spirit of his paintings: rocks, belvederes, waterfalls, mist effects evoking sfumato, the painting technique of vaporous effect giving the picture imprecise contours so appreciated by Leonardo da Vinci.

The park is also home to a new work with astonishingly futuristic lines: the Golden Horn Bridge. In 1502, Leonardo da Vinci designed a great bridge over the Bosphorus, linking the two banks of the city of Constantinople, for Sultan Bajazet II,” explains Catherine Simon Marion, general manager of Le Clos Lucé. The project is designed by the companions of Armédiéval and advised by Norwegian artist Vebjørn Sand.” Since June 2016, you can admire this superb 16 m-long solid oak reproduction, with its parabolic, curved arches.