2019 – France- Leonardo Da Vinci ( LDV) – 500th Anniversary – Chateau du Clos Luce and Chateau Ambois

Inside Chateau du Clos Luce

We visited during mid week school holidays and Clos Luce was pretty busy. The life and works of Leonardo Da Vinci were really well displayed in Clos Luce the house but even better with full size working models in the gardens.

2019 is the 500th anniversary of Leonardo Da Vinci’s death at his home Clos Luce, next door to the Chateau of Ambois. Whilst this is a great marketing boost for the region, and generated many visitors, nevertheless we had an excellent visit to his last home at Clos Luce and then went next door to Chateau Ambois. At Clos Luce we did see the entrance to a tunnel apparently linking both properties that Leonardo’s friend, King Francis 1, would use to visit.

If the exhibition of his life works is to believed, Leonardo Da Vinci either invented or was the inspiration for an amazing range of diverse items. Two days later at Chateau Chambord we were to see evidence that Leonardo was indeed the architect for the concept drawings for Chateau Chambord. You be the judge on these pictures below from the displays inside Clos de Luce, but there is no doubt that Leonardo Da Vinci was a pretty special person, after all it was pre -1519 when he was doing this work:-

Gardens and Working LDV Models

The Chateau du Clos Luce has a walled garden that is very modest except for the LDV working models on display. They are fun, designed that children can be involved and going around them and the Chateau it was fascinating to see the “ Dads” fully interacting with their children on how the models worked.

Chateau Ambois

A short walk down the hill from Clos Luce brings us to the castle that is Chateau Ambois. Our earlier Office de Tourisme pre- visit purchase of tickets enabled us to avoid the long queue!

It’s quite a climb up to the Chateau entrance, through security and you emerge out to the open lawned and gardened area of Chateau Ambois. There are some stunning views down and up the Loire plus over the roof tops of Ambois itself, emphasising agin the early defensive qualities of the location. We really enjoyed these views and the short tour through the part of the Chateau which is open to visitors.

Inside the Chateau an interesting item we found was the “ fake news” around how Leonardo Da Vinci passed away in the arms of King Francis 1, as recorded in paintings of the time. Apparently in fact the King was miles away at the time of Leonardos death but the painter did not want to let facts get in the way of his excellent story in paint.

The combination of Chateau du Luce and Chateau Ambois in a days visit, works really well. When exiting Chateau Ambois you can find some excellent Creperies, we found one with super Gallettes and cold Rose wine, just the perfect end to a great day.