Chaumont sur Loire, Clos Lucé & Amboise Castle

Domaine du Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

The Domaine du Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire has lived a colorful history and is a place full of surprises, being both a historical monument and an art and nature center. Both the château of Chaumont-sur-Loire and the International Garden Festival make up the Domaine du Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire. During your visit, you will get to admire the beautifully furnished rooms, the grand spiral staircase and several works of art on display. The most impressive feature of the chateau, though, is the stunning view over the Loire from the terraces. Another highlight is the stables. Prince Amédée de Broglie is credited for upgrading it with running water and electric lamps at a time when even the grandest chateau had none.

In March 2022, there is an opening of a new space in the château: the 3rd floor of the east wing will host the artist Davide Qualoya for a digital exhibition. There is also the International Garden Festival that takes place every year. It brings together garden designers from all over the world to use their imagination to create a garden based on the annual theme. The theme for the 31st International Garden Festival is "Ideal Garden," and it will take place from April 21 to November 6, 2022. Landscapers of this edition will work on a garden that is beautiful, organic, restorative, comforting, innovative, and economical. Needless to say, the designers of the 30 gardens are going to surprise and amaze you with their inventiveness!

Château Clos Lucé

Formerly called Manoir du Cloux and built in 1941, this luxurious residence building has been passed on to several famous owners throughout history. While it stands in all its Renaissance glory, decorated royally on the inside - the Château is most popularly known for being Leonardo Da Vinci’s last home. With the invitation of Francis I, Da Vinci moved into the royal french residence in 1516 and went on to spend the last three years of his life here.

Besides a splendid collection of art and sculptures, the Château boasts a wide display of the Italian Maestro’s best inventions. You will be able to witness and take photos of architectural wonders such as The articulated glider, The Tank, The Catapult, The Mechanical Drum, and more. Learn all about his inspirations and his little secrets that you will only find out here, at your own pace! Wrap up your informative, self-guided tour with leisure time at the lush park and gardens, or at your own expense, tickle your taste buds to a delicious meal in one of the three restaurants available on site.

Amboise Castle

The architecture of this picturesque castle, a classic representation of late Gothic and early Renaissance architecture, will leave you in awe. Learn about the kings who reigned from the castle at the dawn of the Renaissance, as well as the other members of the French court and artists who were invited to stay in the medieval fortress. See first-hand how extravagant their lives were by admiring the extensive collection of Gothic and Renaissance furniture within the castle. One of the most notable guests at the Amboise Castle was Leonardo da Vinci, who you can pay respects to in the castle’s chapel, where he lies to rest.

Thanks to the latest innovations in the field of augmented reality, the HistoPad© offers you the opportunity to rediscover, in situ, spaces that have now disappeared and to immerse yourself in historical atmospheres: royal audiences and banquets, the seat of the ramparts and battle, construction sites, diving into the jails...the journey is open to all! End your visit with a walk in the sublime gardens, classified as "Remarkable Gardens" in 2017, overlooking the Loire, a river classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.