Leonardo da Vinci: two never-before-seen galleries! the new galleries of the Château du Clos Lucé reveal the secrets of the Italian master

At the Château du Clos Lucé, the magic of the Renaissance takes on a new dimension with the opening of two exceptional galleries dedicated to the greatest genius of all time. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci, where each room reveals the secrets of a visionary mind that left its mark on history. These new spaces invite you on an extraordinary journey to the heart of the Italian master’s creativity, between art and science, in his final resting place where the echoes of his revolutionary discoveries still resonate.

This initiative has just been justly rewarded with the entry of the Château du Clos Lucé in the top 100 destinations worldwide selected by the unmissable Time Magazine.

The legacy of genius in Amboise

François I regularly visited his friend Leonardo da Vinci via a mysterious secret passage linking theChâteau Royal d’Amboise to the manor house of Cloux. In his room at the château, the Italian master was putting the finishing touches to his latest masterpieces: the Mona Lisa, the Saint Anne and the Saint John the Baptist, now on display at the Musée du Louvre.

The Council Room, where Louise of Savoy and the grands of the kingdom would throng to hear the genius, still bears witness to this creative effervescence. The red brick walls preserve the memory of the passionate exchanges between the First Painter to the king and his prestigious visitors, such as the Cardinal of Aragon.

Transformed into a pleasure residence, this château d’agrément is now the property of the Saint Bris family, who perpetuate the master’s legacy through 3D animations and innovative sound terminals.

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Leonardo da Vinci : painter, architect...

And so much more besides! Inventor, engineer, scientist, botanist, show organiser… in short, few fields escaped the curiosity of this emblematic figure of the Renaissance.

From Tuscany to the banks of the Loire

Since his childhood in Tuscany, Leonardo da Vinci observed birds with fascination and curiosity. Later, in his life as an engineer in Florence, Milan, Rome and Amboise, he dissected, drew and studied the flight techniques of small and large birds. In his codexes, the dream takes shape in numerous drawings, sketches and studies around flying machines: aerial screw, ornithopter, flying wing, parachute, glider…

Many years later, competing with talented young artists (Michelangelo, Raphael…) and no longer able to count on his financier and protector, Julien de Medici (brother of the Pope), it was on the back of a mule that Leonardo da Vinci was to cross the Alps to France. He died in his room at Clos Lucé on 2 May 1519. Nearby, the Saint-Hubert chapel in the château royal d’Amboise is home to his tomb.

The master’s fascinating inventions

Admire thelife-size models that come to life in the grounds of the Clos Lucé. The visionary genius came up with an astonishing mechanically propelled tank and a revolutionary swing bridge. These daring creations testify to his innovative spirit, always on the lookout for practical solutions to improve everyday life.

In the visit circuit, a digital fresco reveals the manufacturing secrets behind his flying machines. Children marvel at the ingenious mechanisms, while parents discover the original sketches in the sub-basement of the château. To extend the visit, sit down in the grounds for a picnic in front of the inventions that changed the world.

©Les Ateliers de Léonard de Vinci au château du Clos Lucé Parc Leonardo Da Vinci|Clos Lucé L. de Serres

Around the Château du Clos Lucé

An interior with a thousand facets

Cross the threshold of this Renaissance residence. From Anne de Bretagne’s oratory, the Virgin of Light, “Virgo Lucis”, watches over frescoes of rare beauty, the work of the Italian master’s disciples. In the King’s Room, the wall tapestries and period furniture bear witness to the refinement of court life in the 16th century.

On the ground floor, the medieval kitchen retains its imposing fireplaces where the meals of distinguished guests were simmered. Dominique de Cortone, known as the Boccador, royal architect, used to rub shoulders with Marguerite de Navarre during diplomatic visits. Five centuries later, this sumptuous décor continues to tell the story of this former medieval fortress, transformed into a jewel of the Val de Loire.

In a nutshell on the Château du Clos Lucé

Two new galleries at Le Clos Lucé

Immerse yourself in the artistic and scientific world of Leonardo da Vinci.

Life-size visionary inventions

Discover its flying machines and innovations in an immersive setting.

A garden inspired by nature

Explore a botanical laboratory celebrating the creativity of the Italian master.

The gardens, source of inspiration

Take a stroll through Leonardo’s Garden, a veritable open-air laboratory where nature reveals its secrets. Walkways lined with Italian cypresses and Mona Lisa roses transport you to the master’s botanical universe. The rustle of leaves accompanies your discovery of the plants that fed his imagination.

At the bend in the paths, a majestic 20-metre solid oak double-span bridge rises up, testimony to the genius’s research into proportion and harmony. The walk continues to the country garden, where 26 species of plants and flowers recall those depicted in his most famous paintings.