House-Museum of Leonardo da Vinci Clos Luce (Chateau du Clos Luce) description and photos - France: Amboise (Topic)

House-Museum of Leonardo da Vinci Clos Luce (Chateau du Clos Luce) description and photos - France: Amboise. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Chateau du Clos Luce.

Photo and description

Chateau du Clos Luce is one of the most famous castles of the Middle Ages, located in the Loire Valley. The fame of this small castle was brought by the characters of French history who lived here - King Francis I and Margaret of Navarre, his sister, as well as the favorite of Henry III and participant in the assassination of Duke de Guise Michel du Gast.

But the most famous inhabitant of this castle was Leonardo da Vinci - a famous artist, scientist and inventor. He spent the last three years of his life in Clos-Luce, accepting an invitation to settle here from the monarch Francis I. Currently, the castle houses the Leonardo da Vinci house-museum.

The castle was erected in 1477, one of the its first owners were the royal chef Etienne Leloux. One day a building whose walls were built of red brick with a frame of white stone, Charles VIII liked and was bought for 3,500 gold coins. Later, the future monarch Francis I settled in the royal residence. Becoming king and remembering the wonderful times spent here, as well as wishing the arts to flourish in France, in 1516 he invited Leonardo da Vinci to Clos-Luce. The residence of Francis I, the castle of Amboise and Clos-Luce was connected by an underground passage, through which the ruler could come to the master at any time for a friendly conversation.

During his stay in Clos-Luce, Leonardo da Vinci worked on the completion of the painting “ John the Baptist ", made drawings and came up with various mechanisms. Models of his inventions, which represent prototypes of cars, helicopters, bicycles and other vehicles, can be seen in the exposition. It occupies four rooms of the castle and includes forty models made according to da Vinci's drawings. Interestingly, each of the layouts can be touched and tested in action.

The castle maintains the atmosphere that was here during the life of the genius. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the master's study and bedroom, the luxuriously decorated reception hall, the halls that served as workshops, the castle kitchen with a 16th century fireplace.

During the Great French Revolution, the castle belonged to the Amboise family, who saved it from destruction. In the XX century and now the owners of the castle are the Saint-Brie family, who cares about the safety of the castle and creating the atmosphere that was here during the life of Leonardo da Vinci.

The castle is surrounded by a park called "Leonardo's Garden" .

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Topic: House-Museum of Leonardo da Vinci Clos Luce (Chateau du Clos Luce) description and photos - France: Amboise.