The Clos Lucé guided visit
Why the Clos Lucé belongs in the same day
Because the château gives you Leonardo’s tomb and the Clos Lucé gives you his life. He arrived in 1516 at the invitation of François I, lived here for three years, and died here on 2 May 1519. The house is where he worked; the chapel on the château terrace is where his bones were eventually put, in 1874, on an identification nobody has since confirmed — see is it really him.
Visit them in that order if you can: the manor first, the tomb second. It turns a sightseeing stop into the end of a story. The timing for a combined day is on the two together.
Included
- A 1 hr 30 guided visit of the Clos Lucé and its park
- A live local guide, group capped at ten
- Headphones for groups of more than two
- French or English
Not included
- The Clos Lucé entrance ticket — bought separately
- The château entrance, which is a different property again
- Transport and meals
The park is the part children remember: the machines are full-size and many are built to be touched and turned. If you are short of time, the gardens beat the interiors here — which is the opposite of the advice for the château itself.
Book this visit
Available departures are below. Our detailed review is on the review page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Clos Lucé the same ticket as the château?
No. They are two separate properties with two separate tickets, five hundred metres apart.
Is the entrance included in this guided visit?
No, it is bought separately, as with the château guided visit.
Which should you do first?
The Clos Lucé first, then the tomb in the château chapel: see this page.