Clos Lucé is a 15th-century manor house in Amboise, Indre-et-Loire, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Francis I invited Leonardo to France in 1516, providing him with the Château du Cloux—today known as Clos Lucé—as a permanent residence with a royal pension and complete freedom to pursue his studies. The two men communicated frequently, and a tunnel connecting the manor to the Château Royal d'Amboise 500 metres away facilitated private meetings with the king. Leonardo brought three major paintings to France—the Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, and St John the Baptist—which he kept until his death; the French crown subsequently acquired them, and all three remain in Paris today. He died at Clos Lucé on 2 May 1519, according to tradition in the presence of Francis I, and was buried at the Château d'Amboise. The house has been open to the public since 1954 and contains period-furnished rooms including Leonardo's bedroom, studio, and the great hall where he received the king. Forty scale models of Leonardo's inventions—reconstructed from his codex drawings by engineers in the 1950s—are displayed throughout the interior and the seven-hectare garden. The basement contains interactive digital projections of Leonardo's anatomical drawings and engineering sketches. The garden itself is planted with species documented in Leonardo's botanical notebooks, and life-size mechanical models of his inventions are installed along the garden paths, including a reconstructed ornithopter, a tank prototype, and a bridge-construction machine. The manor is privately owned by the Saint-Bris family, has been continuously restored since the 1930s, and is registered as a Monument historique, receiving over 350,000 visitors annually.
Why it matters
Clos Lucé was the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci, who lived and worked there from 1516 until his death in 1519 at the invitation of Francis I, making it the site where Leonardo's last manuscripts and mechanical designs were produced and where three of his greatest paintings remained until acquired by the French crown.
Location
2 Rue du Clos Lucé, 37400 Amboise, France
47.4102, 0.9879 View on map
Highlights
- Leonardo da Vinci's furnished bedroom and studio preserved in the 15th-century manor where he lived from 1516 to his death in 1519
- Forty scale models of Leonardo's inventions reconstructed from his codex drawings, displayed across the interior and garden
- Interactive digital projection room in the basement featuring animated displays of Leonardo's anatomical and engineering manuscripts
- Seven-hectare garden with life-size mechanical models including a reconstructed ornithopter, tank, and bridge machine
- Great hall where Leonardo received Francis I, with period furniture and reproductions of his three final paintings
Tips for visiting
- Visit the basement projection rooms first — they provide context for the upstairs rooms and become more crowded later in the day.
- The garden is included in the ticket but closes at the same time as the house — allow at least an hour for the outdoor machine installations.
- Combined tickets with the Château Royal d'Amboise (a 5-minute walk) offer savings and let visitors see both Leonardo's home and the château he could see from his window.
- Audio guides in English are available and substantially enrich each room; the house's own labels are primarily in French.
- Opening hours extend to 20:00 in July and August — evening visits have smaller crowds and pleasant garden light.
When to visit
Late spring and early summer (May–June) suit the garden installations best. Evening visits in July and August (until 20:00) offer smaller crowds and attractive light in the garden.
Accessibility
The ground floor rooms and garden paths are largely accessible. Some upper-floor rooms involve narrow historic staircases. The basement projection room has step-free access. Staff can advise on adapted circuits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clos Lucé suitable for children?
Yes, the garden machine installations are popular with children, and interactive digital displays in the basement engage younger visitors. The property provides activity sheets for families.
How long does a full visit take?
A thorough visit covering all interior rooms, the basement projection area, and the full garden typically takes 2–3 hours.
Are English explanations available throughout the house?
Room labels are primarily in French; English-language audio guides are available at the entrance for an additional fee and cover all major rooms and garden installations.