Chateau du Clos Lucé - 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 of French history - King Francis I and Margaret of Navarre, his sister, as well as a favorite of Henry III and member of the assassination of the Duke de Guise Michel du Gast.

But the most famous inhabitant of the castle was Leonardo da Vinci - the famous artist, scientist and inventor. He spent the Clos-Luce the last three years of his life, accepting the invitation to settle here from the monarch Francis I. At present, the castle is located the house-museum of Leonardo da Vinci.

The castle was built in 1477, one of its first owners was a royal chef Etienne Lelu. Once the building, whose walls were built of red brick with a frame made of white stone, attracted Charles VIII and was bought for 3,500 gold coins. Later the royal residence settled future monarch Francis I. Becoming the King and remembering the wonderful time spent here, as well as wanting to flourishing of the arts in France, in 1516 he was invited to the Clos Lucé Leonardo da Vinci. Residence of François I Château d'Amboise and Clos-Luce joined an underground passage by which the ruler could at any time to come to the master for a friendly chat.

During his stay in Clos Lucé Leonardo da Vinci worked on the completion of the painting "John the Baptist" was invented drawings and various mechanisms. Mock-ups of his inventions, which are prototypes of cars, helicopters, bicycles and other vehicles can be seen in the exposition. It takes four rooms of the castle and includes forty models, made from drawings by Da Vinci. Interestingly, each of the layouts can be touched and tested in action.

The castle is maintained that the situation that was there during the life of a genius. Visitors have the opportunity to inspect the room and the master bedroom, luxuriously furnished reception hall visitors halls serving workshops, the castle kitchen with fireplace of the XVI century.

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

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