Country Article / Postcards
Leonardo's House
Date: 06/19/2006International Living Postcards-- your daily escape
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Amboise, France
Dear International Living Reader,
In 1516, King Francois I invited Leonardo da Vinci to join the French court at Amboise--offering him a generous salary and a small manor house, Le Clos Luce. Situated just outside the royal chateau walls, Leonardo lived here for three years until his death at 67 years of age.
The Chateau of Amboise, high on the hill overlooking the Loire River, is an interesting place to visit in its own right. But walk up the road next to the castle to enter Leonardo's abode. The pink brick manor house is set on the edge of huge, park-like gardens, which are dotted with working models of some of the man's larger inventions.
In the basement next to the kitchen, with its monumental fireplace, is an astonishing collection of scale models of 40 of da Vinci's inventions--four centuries ahead of their time--reconstructed by IBM from his drawings and using materials of the 16th century.
The first airplane, self-propelled vehicle, parachute, helicopter, tank, machine gun, and turning bridge...to name a few.
Many historians believe that he also designed the nearby Romorantin Palace and parts of the stunning Chateau de Chambord. Parc Leonardo da Vinci is open daily, April through November. The house itself is open daily, except on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
For more information, see: http://www.vinci-closluce.com.
Vivienne Mackie
For International Living
Editor's note: Behind the doors of a tiny pâtisserie, down a side street off the boulevard Saint-Germain, in the shade of tree-lined canals, an enchanting city of secrets and charms awaits you...if you have the right map. Now, you do.
Rate this Postcard:
Rating: 3/5 (62 votes cast)