The Events
« Two days ago, on Sunday, the Christian king gave a feast, a most admirable celebration, which I describe to you as follows. The place was named Le Cloux, big and beautiful palace. […] There must have been four hundred chandeliers so bright you’d think night was chased away »
Letter by Galeazzo Visconti, Ambassador of Mantoue at the court of France, describing the Festa del paradise organised by Leonardo da Vinci in the gardens of the Clos Lucé on Juni 1518 to thank the king of his good deeds. »
Christmas Wonderland at Clos Lucé
From 1 December 2021 to 6 January 2022
For the
Christmas festivities, Leonardo da Vinci's last residence has been decked with
fir trees, ivy, flowers and numerous decorations to transport you into a
magical world. Christmas decorations transform the Renaissance hall and the
kitchen, domain of Mathurine, Leonardo's servant and cook. In the chapel of
Anne de Bretagne, the Nativity Scene belonging to the Saint Bris family has
pride of place, with its 19
th century ornamental crib figures made
by master artists. Log fires and seasonal scents evoke memories of childhood.
Programme
• Christmas
decorations from 1 December to 6 January
(except 25 December and 1 January).
The magic of
Christmas in Leonardo da Vinci's house and at the entrance to the castle.
• Christmas
carols performed by the Petits Chanteurs du Val de France choir
‘Silent Night’,
‘We wish you a merry Christmas’ and all your favourite Christmas songs sung by
the children of the choir in front of the magnificent Christmas tree in the
Renaissance hall.
19 December at
2pm, 3pm and 4.30pm
Included with the admission ticket
• Christmas
story (only in french)
Clos Lucé guide
Aline Matrat invites children on a journey into their imagination, based
on a
Christmas tale telling the story of a little girl transported 500 years back in
time to the Renaissance.
From 18 to 31
December (except 19, 20, 25 and 27 December) at 11am and 3pm
Duration: 50 minutes
Included with the admission ticket
• Guided
tour for children with Mathurine, Leonardo da Vinci's cook (only in french)
Accompanied by
Mathurine, Leonardo da Vinci's faithful cook, children will discover the
artist's daily life and the traditions of Christmas in the decorated rooms of
the castle.
Visit suitable
for children aged 7 to 14
From 20 to 31 December (except 25 and 26 December) at 10.30am and 2.30pm
4€ in addition to the entrance fee
Reservations strongly recommended at the Amboise Val de Loire Tourist Office
Leonardo da Vinci, Painter and Architect Galleries
Since June 2021
This spring, the Château du Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo da Vinci is excited to be opening additional galleries dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, painter and architect.
LEONARDO DA VINCI PAINTER GALLERY
The 17 masterpieces produced by Leonardo da Vinci will be projected onto the walls and ceiling of the ground floor gallery thanks to digital technologies. Along with the preparatory drawings on show, they create an original and spectacular exhibition that visitors can engage directly with. This imaginary museum presents treasures from the Louvre in Paris, the Uffizi in Florence, the Vatican Museums, the National Gallery in London, the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, the National Museum in Kraków, the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and immerses visitors into the Tuscan master’s painted works.
Faces, smiles and hands, perspective, the Last Supper, the blue horizons of the landscapes on his canvases all intertwine in this fascinating and lyrical circular journey through his artistic creativity.
LEONARDO DA VINCI ARCHITECT GALLERY
This exhibition offers a fun and educational tour of the achievements of Leonardo da Vinci the civil, religious and military architect, town planner and talented stage director of spectacular festivities. Facsimiles, drawings, life-size models, digital tables and 3D animation bring these disciplines to life.
In the multimedia room on the first floor, come and explore a 3D reconstruction of the Royal Palace of Romorantin designed by Leonardo da Vinci for King Francis I, through a video game created specially for the exhibition.
When: since June 2021
Where: in Leonardo da Vinci's park
Times: 10am - 8.30pm (September and October 2021)
Price: included with your admission ticket
To whet your appetite, watch our podcast and visit galleries from your own home! (in French).
Permanent exhibitions
« The desire to know is natural to good men. »
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci and France
Le Château du Clos Lucé, the link between Italian and French Renaissance
Drawing on new scientific contributions, this exhibition throws light on the fascinating relationships between Leonardo da Vinci and three Kings of France over a 10-year period.
Guided through a series of richly illustrated themed exhibits — from royal commissions and feats of engineering to sumptuous festivities and final drawings, visitors will discover a multitude of projects built or conceived by the Italian master during his time spent living at Clos Lucé in Amboise.
• Halle Muséographique (In Leonardo da Vinci's park) : 10am - 6pm
• This exhibition has an additional charge to the general admission : 5€ adult / 3€ concessions (job seeker, large family...) / 1€ children (7-18 years old) and student / Free under 7 years old
• Tickets for a self-guided visit of the castle, the park, Leonardo da Vinci painter and architect galleries including Leonardo da Vinci and France exhibition are available here
The exhibition will be open every day from 20th to 31st December.