In the footsteps of Leonardo Da Vinci

Chateau du Clos Luce, where Leonardo Da Vinci spent the final three years of his life, was only a short distance from our accommodation.  Getting there early meant that we had the pick of the bike rails to secure our fully-laden bikes. The self-guided tour started with a chronology of his life, from his illegitimate birth in Italy where he was raised by his grandparents to his apprenticeship in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio and then the different periods of his life based on his location.  Finally, he arrived in Clos Luce on the invitation of King Francis 1, with three of his paintings including the Mona Lisa.

After passing through the Italian-style loggia, we entered the bedroom where Leonardo lived and died at the age of 67.  Others rooms followed, before we came to his workshops and model rooms which displayed machines based on da Vinci’s original drawings and were built with materials from the time. Some, such as the tank, were supported with 3D animations to show how the inventions worked.

We walked through Leonardo’s garden to new galleries. The first showed an exhibition of his architectural work and drawings followed by the painter gallery which involved an immersive video of all his masterpieces using the four walls and ceiling.  A magnificent peacock was showing his plumage as we left to explore Leonardo’s Parc which showcased many major inventions including the Shaduf, treadmill and aerial screw.  

It was time for coffee, and we walked into the centre of town, past some of the houses built into the cliffs and found a café beneath the chateau.

We had booked a troglodyte restaurant, Le Pied dans Le Plat, about 8 kms from Amboise so they were expecting us, even though we arrived some 30 minutes early.  It was a delicious lunch in the cave where between us we tried all the dishes on Le Plat du Jour menu.

 Back on the bikes, we had another 34 kms to cycle into Blois and passed lots of cyclists heading the other way. We passed the Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire and continued along the bike path which hugged the Loire river and could see the skyline of Blois. After a few steep pinches, we crossed the Jacques-Gabriel bridge and before us, the Blois Cathedral perched high above the town.  

It was a long climb up through the town to our accommodation which was located in the suburbs, but conveniently close to an excellent boulangerie and large supermarket for dinner and breakfast provisions.