The beginnings of the Château du Clos Lucé dates back to 1471 and the reign of Louis XI. Constructed of pink bricks and tufa stone, this Château was built over old Gallo-Roman Foundations. The watchtower, which provides the entrance to the Gallery, is the oldest remaining part of the original structure.
The Château du Clos Lucé was purchased by Charles VIII on July 2, 1490, and became the summer residence of the Kings of France. Charles VIII transformed the structure into a Renaissance Château, as it appears today.
The Château du Clos Lucé is famous for being the official residence of Leonardo da Vinci between 1516 and his death on May 2, 1519. The Renaissance style Château was built by Hugues d'Amboise in the middle of the fifteenth century and was acquired by Charles VIII of France for his wife, Anne de Bretagne, in in 1490. It was then used by Francis I, as well as his sister Marguerite de Navarre, who began writing her book entitled L'Heptaméron while living there.
In 1516, King Francis I of France invited Leonardo da Vinci to come to France and live with him at Château du Clos Lucé. Da Vinci brought with him his most famous paintings: the Mona Lisa, Sainte Anne, and Saint Jean Baptiste.
Château du Clos Lucé now serves as a museum of Leonardo da Vinci's life and works. The rooms that da Vinci used are preserved and copies of his inventions, constructed from his drawings, are on display within the Château du Clos Lucé and in the surrounding gardens.
A tour of Château du Clos Lucé will take you to:
1. The Gallery in the watchtower. This is the oldest part of the Château du Clos Lucé, a surviving piece of Medieval architecture.
2. The bedroom of Leonardo da Vinci which is completely furnished with original furniture and art.
3. The bedroom of Marguerite de Navarre which contains magnificent tapestries.
4. The Oratory of Anne de Bretagne - a chapel commissioned by Charles VIII for his wife.
5. The 18th century salons featuring gilded wood furniture.
6. The Renaissance Great Hall, which was Leonardo da Vinci's reception room.
7. The kitchen where you discover that Leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian.
8. The model room which contains model of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions created by IBM from original drawings.
Link to Merimee DB