Clos Lucé Castle

The Château du Clos Lucé was gifted to Leonardo da Vinci by King Francis I in 1516, welcoming the Italian genius to the heart of the Loire Valley. At 64, Leonardo crossed the Alps by mule with his notebooks and three masterpieces, the Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist, and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne. As the king’s “first painter, engineer and architect,” he imagined bold projects like the double-helix staircase at Chambord while living at the Clos Lucé.

Inside the château, Leonardo’s bedroom, studio, and workshop have been faithfully restored. Visitors can explore his world through original-style furnishings, facsimiles of his drawings and codices, and immersive displays using modern “ghost technology.” The château also preserves rooms linked to Marguerite de Navarre and Anne of Brittany, adding rich layers to this Renaissance setting.

Outdoors, the vast park has become an open-air museum featuring full-scale models of Leonardo’s inventions, from flying machines to war engines. With hands-on exhibits and creative installations, Clos Lucé offers an inspiring and educational experience for all ages. It’s more than a museum, it’s a tribute to the mind where art meets science, and genius becomes timeless.