Da Vinci's Haunts - Throwback to the Renaissance

Renaissance Chateaus and Leonardo da Vinci

 

 The Loire Valley was the capital of the French monarchy during the Renaissance era, it is dotted with many magnificent royal castles (chateaus). King Francis I even brought the genius Leonardo da Vinci from Italy to Amboise on the Loire River to cultivate artistic and scientific studies. Visiting Leonardo's stately house Clos Luce, his tomb in the exquisite St-Hubert Chapel, and the massive Amboise Chateau where Francis I was based, is a fascinating glimpse into the personal life of one of the world's greatest renaissance men/inventors/artists.

 Amboise Chateau commands a gorgeous view over the wide Loire River, the lifeline of the French nation back in the day. The Chateau's massive bastions surround a soaring Gothic palace and the beautiful, jewel box-like St Hubert Chapel. We enjoyed Clos Luce for its graceful architecture, fascinating exhibits on Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, as well as the pleasant Italian gardens he started. The painting Mona Lisa used to hang in Da Vinci's bedroom while he lived here.

 Chenonceau Chateau is one of the most popular in the Loire Valley. It is a picture-perfect fairy-tale castle spanning a bridge over the placid Cher River. Designed and commissioned successively by two court ladies and a queen, its slender proportions and ornate turrets reveal a feminine touch. A homey, thatch-roofed traditional farm nearby complements the elegant castle, although the formal gardens of lavender and roses were not too inspiring.