The Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise is the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years; it is open every day except December 25 and January 1. Adult admission costs €20 (château, park and galleries), and a self-guided visit takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The royal château of Amboise is only 400 meters (0.25 mi) away on foot, according to the official website: we checked the distance and cross-referenced the month-by-month hours with sunset times. Our guide to the royal château of Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, covers its hours and prices.
Clos Lucé is one stop in our guide to visiting the Loire Valley; a combined ticket links it with Amboise and Chambord.
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Clos Lucé: key facts
- Hours: January 10 am–6 pm; February–June 9 am–7 pm; July–August 9 am–8 pm; September–October 9 am–7 pm; November–December 9 am–6 pm; ticket office closes 1 hour earlier — checked on 16 October 2026 on vinci-closluce.com
- Closed: December 25 and January 1
- Standard price: adult €20, child (ages 7–18) and student €15, free under 7; €25 with the summer temporary exhibition (June 6–September 13) — checked on 16 October 2026 on vinci-closluce.com
- Booking: not mandatory; tickets online (dated, non-refundable and non-transferable) or on site — checked on 16 October 2026 on vinci-closluce.com
- Time needed: 1 hour 30 minutes (château, park, galleries), 3 hours with the temporary exhibition — checked on 16 October 2026 on vinci-closluce.com
- Prices recorded on 16 October 2026 and subject to change: check before you go.
Clos Lucé tickets: official vs resellers
| Rate | Château + park + galleries | With temporary exhibition (June 6–September 13) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | €20 | €25 |
| Child 7–18, student | €15 | €16 |
| Reduced rate (jobseekers, large families) | €15 | €18 |
| Visitor with a disability and companion (if stated on the card) | €11 | €14 |
| Family pass (2 adults + 2 children) | €60 | €65 |
| Extra child (family pass) | €5 | €5 |
| Under 7 | Free | Free |
The official FAQ names its authorized resellers (Tiqets, GetYourGuide, Musement, Headout, Civitatis, Klook), in addition to its online ticket office. Dated tickets can be neither postponed nor cancelled. There are no special rates for teachers, seniors, military personnel or ICOM card holders. The family pass covers 2 adults and 2 to 4 children, with no requirement that they be related.
Destination de Voyage calculation: a family of 2 adults and 2 children would pay €70 at individual rates, against €60 with the family pass, a saving of €10; with a third child, €65 instead of €85. Official combined passes link Clos Lucé with the royal château of Amboise, or with Amboise and Chambord (prices on the ticket office). The Ambassador card (€37 a year) pays for itself from an adult’s second visit.
Opening hours month by month and daylight
| Month (15th) | Site opening | Ticket office closes | Sunset | Max temp, Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 am – 6 pm | 5 pm | 5:32 pm | 7.7 °C (46 °F) |
| February | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 6:19 pm | 9.0 °C (48 °F) |
| March | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 7:01 pm | 12.9 °C (55 °F) |
| April | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 8:44 pm | 16.0 °C (61 °F) |
| May | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 9:25 pm | 19.6 °C (67 °F) |
| June | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 9:54 pm | 23.4 °C (74 °F) |
| July | 9 am – 8 pm | 7 pm | 9:49 pm | 25.9 °C (79 °F) |
| August | 9 am – 8 pm | 7 pm | 9:08 pm | 26.0 °C (79 °F) |
| September | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 8:08 pm | 22.1 °C (72 °F) |
| October | 9 am – 7 pm | 6 pm | 7:08 pm | 17.0 °C (63 °F) |
| November | 9 am – 6 pm | 5 pm | 5:20 pm | 11.4 °C (53 °F) |
| December | 9 am – 6 pm | 5 pm | 5:05 pm | 8.1 °C (47 °F) |
How to read it: from November to February the sun sets before the site closes (between 5:05 and 6:19 pm according to our calculation), so the Leonardo da Vinci park, with its giant outdoor models, is best seen in the early afternoon. From April to October the site closes before sunset, and July–August offer the longest opening day (9 am–8 pm). The site publishes no attendance figures; its second entrance, open from April to August « depending on crowds », suggests that the warm season is the busiest.
What to see and a suggested route
- The château: Leonardo da Vinci’s home, visited on your own with a leaflet in 5 languages; free Ollie Scan app to identify furniture and artworks. Strollers must stay outside (use a baby carrier).
- The Leonardo da Vinci park: 8 audio points, models of his inventions, shaded picnic area.
- The Leonardo da Vinci Galleries (Leonardo the painter and architect).
- Guided tour with a guide-lecturer (1 hour, €4.80 extra; March to October at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm and 4:15 pm) — no guide from October 27 to November 6, 2026.
- Fun tour with Mathurine, Leonardo’s cook (1 hour, ages 7 and over, €6 extra), during the summer and All Saints’ school holidays.
Clos Lucé and the Château d’Amboise on foot
| Route | Official figure | Destination de Voyage calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Clos Lucé – royal château of Amboise | 400 m (0.25 mi) on foot | 600 m (0.4 mi) as the crow flies |
| Clos Lucé – Amboise town center | 300 m (0.2 mi) on foot | — |
| Clos Lucé – Amboise station | 20 minutes on foot | — |
Both visits fit into one day: the royal château in the morning, Clos Lucé in the afternoon (or the other way around), with a break in town. The official combined ticket saves you from going through the ticket office twice.
| From Clos Lucé to | Distance as the crow flies |
|---|---|
| Château de Chenonceau | 11 km (7 mi) |
| ZooParc de Beauval | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Château de Cheverny | 36 km (22 mi) |
| Château de Chambord | 46 km (29 mi) |
Getting there
- Train: Amboise station from Paris-Austerlitz, or a TGV to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps from Paris-Montparnasse; 20 minutes on foot from the station — checked on 11 November 2026 on vinci-closluce.com
- Car: A10 exit 18 Château-Renault / Amboise, or A85 exit 11 Bléré / Amboise; paid private parking on rue du Clos Lucé, 300 m (0.2 mi) from the entrance — checked on 11 November 2026 on vinci-closluce.com
- Coach: Pont Maréchal-Leclerc is closed to vehicles over 7.5 tonnes; free coach parking on rue du Clos Lucé.
- Bicycle: two bike racks and secure lockers on site.
Accessibility and pets
Clos Lucé publishes a public accessibility register and a disability page; the detail of wheelchair-accessible areas is not given there in text: check the register or contact the site. The texts of the audio points are available at the ticket office for visitors with hearing loss. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the park and must be carried inside the château.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Buying a dated ticket without being sure of your plans: it cannot be postponed or cancelled.
- Coming on December 25 or January 1: closed.
- Arriving less than an hour before closing: the ticket office closes 1 hour earlier.
- Taking a stroller into the house: not allowed, bring a baby carrier.
- Counting on a senior or teacher discount: there is none.
What to see nearby
The royal château of Amboise is 400 m (0.25 mi) away. In our Loire Valley guide: the Château de Chambord, the Château de Cheverny and the ZooParc de Beauval.
Leonardo da Vinci at Clos Lucé: key dates
- 1471: deed of sale of the Cloux estate, a fief dependent on the château of Amboise; it later became a residence of the kings of France.
- 1516: at age 64, Leonardo da Vinci leaves Rome for France at the invitation of Francis I, bringing his notebooks and three paintings, including the Mona Lisa.
- May 2, 1519: Leonardo dies in his room at Clos Lucé; he leaves his manuscripts to his pupil Francesco Melzi.
- Since 1855: the château has belonged to the Saint Bris family.
The ticket also includes the Leonardo da Vinci Galleries (Leonardo the painter and architect), behind the garden, according to the official website.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Clos Lucé cost?
€20 for an adult, €15 for a child aged 7 to 18 or a student, free under 7; family pass €60 (recorded on 16 October 2026 on the official website).
What are the opening hours of Clos Lucé?
9 am to 7 pm from February to June and in September–October, 9 am–8 pm in July–August, 9 am–6 pm in November–December and 10 am–6 pm in January. The ticket office closes 1 hour earlier; closed December 25 and January 1.
Do you need to book Clos Lucé in advance?
No: tickets can also be bought on site. Online, the ticket is dated and can be neither postponed nor cancelled.
How long does a visit to Clos Lucé take?
1 hour 30 minutes for the château, park and galleries; 3 hours with the summer temporary exhibition.
How far is Clos Lucé from the Château d’Amboise?
400 m (0.25 mi) on foot according to the official website, a few minutes’ walk.
How long did Leonardo da Vinci live at Clos Lucé?
About three years: he arrived in France in 1516 and died at Clos Lucé on May 2, 1519.
Our sources
- Château du Clos Lucé (vinci-closluce.com): access and opening hours, prices, visit options, FAQ, disability access, consulted on 16 October 2026; access and opening hours checked again on 11 November 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 normals, Tours station (maximum temperature, precipitation, rainy days), taken from our Loire Valley page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the Wikidata coordinates of Clos Lucé (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Wikidata: coordinates of Clos Lucé (Q1122731), of the château of Amboise (Q389908) and of the sites mentioned
- Wikipedia: « Château du Clos-Lucé » article (history: 1471, 1516, 1519, Saint Bris ownership), consulted on 16 October 2026; Château du Clos Lucé (vinci-closluce.com): Leonardo da Vinci Galleries, consulted on 16 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.