The château du Clos lucé is one of the most famous castles of the middle Ages, located in the Loire valley. The fame of this small castle lived here brought actors in French history – king Francis I and Marguerite of Navarre, his sister, and also a favorite of Henry III and the assassination of the Duke de guise Michelle du Gast.

But the most famous inhabitant of the castle was Leonardo da Vinci, the famous artist, scientist and inventor. He spent in Clos lucé last three years of his life, having accepted an invitation to settle here from the monarch Francis I. at present In the castle now houses the house-Museum of Leonardo da Vinci.

The castle was built in 1477, one of its first owners was the Royal chef Etienne Leloup. Once a building whose walls were made of red brick with a frame of white stone, liked Charles VIII and was bought for 3500 gold coins. Later in the Royal residence settled future monarch Francis I. Became king and spent here remembering the wonderful times, as well as wanting the blossoming of the arts in France in 1516 he was invited to the Clos lucé, Leonardo da Vinci. The residence of Francis I of the Amboise castle and the Clos lucé were connected by an underground passage by which the ruler could at any time come to the master for a friendly chat.

During your stay at Clos lucé, Leonardo da Vinci worked on the completion of the painting "John the Baptist" was the drawings and came up with different mechanisms. Models of his inventions, which are prototypes of cars, helicopters, bikes and other vehicles, can be seen in the exposition. It occupies four rooms of the castle and includes forty models made according to the drawings of da Vinci. Interestingly, each of the layouts you can touch and check in action.

The castle is supported by the atmosphere that was here when the life of a genius. Visitors have the opportunity to examine the study and master bedroom, luxuriously decorated reception hall visitors, the halls that served as workshops, castle kitchen with fireplace XVI century.

During the great French revolution, the castle belonged to the family of Amboise, which saved him from destruction. In the XX century and now the owners of the castle is the family of Saint-brie, who cares about the safety of the castle and creating the atmosphere that was here in the time of Leonardo da Vinci.

The castle is surrounded by a Park, which is called "Garden of Leonardo".