… I’m finally picking up my journey along LaLoire.  It seems such a long time sinceI’ve been able to continue this series of posts.  Hopefully you won’t be disappointed with today's destination …
From the city of Blois, in my last post, wemeander along the D952 which runs along the north bank of the river.  We follow the valley to the city of Amboise.  The oldest part of the city is on the southbank of the Loire and that’s where I’m taking you today.With a population of over 12,500 people, thecity of Amboise has a significant and very long history.  It also has a beautiful château thatoriginates from the 11th century. Chnaged, added to, and improved over time it was eventually confiscatedby the monarchy and then extensively rebuilt to suit royal tastes.  Our own Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots, arrivedin Ambiose at the age of six in 1548 and remained in the châteauuntil 1561, when she returned to Edinburgh to claim her title to the Englishcrown.  But we’ll ignore the stunningbuilding that towers over the river for the moment.  There's somewhere else I want to you to see.From the bridge that crosses the river rightby the château it’s a short walk – five hundred metres -deeper into the old town to Le Clos Lucé.  Thiswas once the residence of Leonardo de Vinci. The artist was lured to France by Francis 1.  Despite his age, da Vinci travelled to Francein 1516.  He was by then sixty-four yearsold.  The King promised da Vinci thehouse and the artist lived out the final years of his life in the luxurioussurroundings of the manor house until he died in 1519.Built by Hugues d’Amboise in 1471, the smallpalace – in comparison with the royal château – is still sumptuous by anartist’s standards.  Leonardo was also ingood company as previous inhabitants were as noteworthy as King Charles 8.Now, the building in its own grounds, is amuseum dedicated to the life and work of Leonardo.  You can meander through the artist’s studio,his living quarters, his workshop for his war machines, and the kitchens werehis staff toiled to keep the household fed and watered and Leonardo in thestyle to which the King had set out for him.As I moved from room to room, from staircaseto landing, and window to window I couldn’t help but think about the feet thatthe passed the same way five hundred years before me.  As I gazed out of the windows at the gardensand grounds below, I couldn’t stop asking myself if da Vinci might havetaken inspiration from this or that particular view. The most fascinating part of a visit to thisestablishment, are the rooms containing the models of da Vinci’s many warmachines.  There is an early form of tankright here!  Not to mention an equallyearly version of a machine gun along with a wooden bicycle and lots more to discover.I spent a whole day meandering through Le Clos Lucé.  Which Isuppose means I’ll have to come back to take another look at the royalhouse!  But, as I make my way back to theKing's residence I have to call in.  Not to visit the house but to visit daVinci’s grave which sits in the grounds of the royal château.  Da Vinci died on May 2nd,1519.  There is a painting by Ingres thatwas completed in 1818, depicting the artist on his death bed withFrancis 1 at his side.  Did he really die inthe arms of the King of France?  Igenuinely don’t know the true answer to that question.  But, it does kind of seem fitting that he mighthave done!

If you would like to read the earlier posts in this series, you can find them by clicking the following links :    Rivers of France  La Loire  Digoin  Nevers     Orleans    Blois