Hi, it's Rémi, I hope you're well. Today, I'm taking you on a journey in the footsteps of a famous figure you may know for his Mona Lisa or his futuristic inventions: Leonardo da Vinci. But did you know that he spent the last years of his life in France? This last, lesser-known chapter is nonetheless fascinating. Settle in, we're going back in time to the Renaissance.
(By the way, a little personal anecdote: I'm from Romorantin-Lanthenay, in the heart of the Sologne region. It may not be the best-known town, but you'll see that it has a very special link with Léonard...)
François I's invitation: a royal welcome
In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci, then aged 64, left Italy to settle in France. He accepted an invitation from François I, a young king with a passion for the arts and sciences. He saw in Leonardo a living treasure, a master whose genius would enrich the kingdom.
Leonardo arrives with his manuscripts, sketches and three emblematic paintings: the Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Anne. He crossed the Alps by mule, with a few assistants, and settled at the Château du Clos Lucé, in Amboise, in the Loire Valley. The king offered him this estate, located close to the royal château.
Life at Le Clos Lucé: art, engineering and philosophy
At Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci no longer painted much: his right hand was paralyzed. But he continued to think, to design machines, to imagine modern cities, to discuss with the scientists of his time. He became a kind of "official sage", regularly consulted by the king.
His projects included canals, fortifications and the design of ideal cities. A persistent legend has it that he contributed to the design of the Château de Chambord, in particular its double spiral staircase.
Chambord and the genius of the double-revolution staircase
Château de Chambord, a jewel of the French Renaissance, is one of the country's most emblematic monuments. Its central staircase, in the shape of a double spiral, allows two people to go up and down without ever passing each other. This architectural feat is often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, although there are no formal documents attesting to this.
The very concept of the staircase - two handrails wrapped around a single axis - is typical of Da Vinci's thinking, always in search of efficiency, fluidity of movement and symmetry. It should also be remembered that, at this time, Leonardo was in constant contact with Francis I, and his notebooks are full of similar drawings.
To visit Chambord is to enter a world where art, science and political power come together. And even if Vinci's name isn't inscribed in the stone, his spirit seems to inhabit every volute of the staircase.
Romorantin-Lanthenay: Leonardo da Vinci's forgotten project
And speaking of towns in the center of France, I have to tell you a little-known but verified fact: François I wanted to make Romorantin-Lanthenay the capital of the kingdom. Yes, my home town! But why? Because it's strategically located at the geographic center of the country. And to realize this royal dream, the king called on his favorite master: Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo imagined a gigantic royal castle and an ideal city, with canals, gardens, bridges and a modern hydraulic network. He even began the plans, and work began. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned on his death in 1519. Today, remnants of the construction site can still be found in some parts of the city.
This ambitious project, sometimes referred to as the "failed Versailles of the Renaissance", remains one of the great mysteries of French history. You can find out more on the Romorantin website, or at Le Clos Lucé, where models of this utopian city are on display.
A death in France, a universal legacy
Leonardo da Vinci died on May 2, 1519, at the age of 67, in his room at Clos Lucé. He is buried in the Chapelle Saint-Hubert, within the walls of the Château Royal d'Amboise. Even today, his tomb is a place of pilgrimage for art and history enthusiasts.
His stay in France enabled him to pass on some of his immense knowledge to the artists of the French Renaissance. He also left a lasting imprint on culture and the collective imagination.
If you'd like to find out more or take a tour, take a look at the official website of Le Clos Lucé, a living museum where you can walk in the footsteps of the master. For a complete overview, don't forget to visit Château de Chambord, a veritable masterpiece of stone and ingenuity.
Want to see it all for real?
Good news: we're organizing a trip to the Châteaux de la Loire, to discover this magnificent region and the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci. On the program: guided tours, cultural walks, historical anecdotes and immersion in Renaissance court life. A unique opportunity to understand how this Italian genius left his mark on French history.
