You are standing where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years, from 1516 to 1519, still thinking, sketching, and solving problems for a king. Look up at this manor house first, then imagine the busy mind that worked here every day.
Stand outside · play the audio first, then read on.
This place exists because King François I welcomed Leonardo to France and gave him a home where he could keep creating. Inside, the restored ground-floor rooms show the kind of working life he led here, not just a famous name on a wall, and the underground gallery lets you see up to forty machine models up close, so his ideas feel real and hands-on. Leonardo was living and working here at the end of his life, advising the king and developing plans for engineering, water systems, and inventions. As you walk the grounds, look for the giant 3D reconstructions in the park, because they turn his drawings into something you can circle around and understand. If you have time, pair Clos Lucé with nearby Amboise, since the two sites are only about 500 meters apart, which makes the story of Leonardo and the French court much easier to follow in one visit.
Read more →Go early or later in the day if you can, when the house and park are easier to read without the busiest crowding. The visit normally takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, so give it a real block of time rather than trying to squeeze it in.
Buy the standard ticket on arrival only if you are not pairing sites; adults are €19.50 and Melek’s reduced ticket is €14 for ages 7-18. If you plan to visit Amboise too, check for a Clos Lucé + Amboise combo ticket before you commit, since the two sites are only about 400-500 meters apart and work well together.
Start inside the house with Leonardo’s rooms, then drop to the underground gallery, and finish in the park so the outdoor machines feel like an expansion of what you just saw indoors. If you are combining it with Amboise, do Clos Lucé first or second depending on ticket timing, but keep the walk between the two sites as part of the day rather than treating it like a transfer.
Tap ⓘ at the top right anytime for hours, address, prices.
Find each one — tap to tick it off.
Third-wave roasters & quality espresso (worth a walk)
Casual cafés and bakeries closest to here
Sit-down lunch spots
Small museum in the former home of Da Vinci, with grounds displaying working models of his designs.
Escargots, beef tartare & other classic dishes offered alongside a robust wine menu in a homey spot.
Where to land in the evening
Small museum in the former home of Da Vinci, with grounds displaying working models of his designs.
Escargots, beef tartare & other classic dishes offered alongside a robust wine menu in a homey spot.
Fast food & takeaway for when you just need something fast
For the "we just want a Big Mac" moment.
