Da Vinci's Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise and other Paris, France Off The Beaten Path Tips

Located a 2 hour drive south of Paris in the beautiful town of Amboise is the Château du Clos Lucé and the Parc Leonardo da Vinci. If you're planning to explore this region, I highly recommend it! It is often considered "one of the jewels of the Renaissance".

The château was initially built back in 1107 and exchanged ownership several times while remaining a royal estate. However, it's most famous for being the final home of Leonardo da Vinci from 1516 until da Vinci's death in 1519. It was here where King Francis I brought da Vinci and paid him 700 "golden Ecus" a year to think and dream freely for the remainder of his life. Well, those dreams paid off!

A visit to the Clos Lucé is like visiting a Renaissance palace and a da Vinci museum simultaniously. While not entirely an art museum, the Clos Lucé acts as a display haven for some of da Vinci's most famous drawings and inventions. Surrounding the château is the Parc Leonardo da Vinci which is a traditional renaissance garden. It makes for a very romantic and picturesque experience!

Also, while I did not eat at the Clos Lucé, there are several cafés and restaurants for those looking to munch on some traditional Renaissance food!

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Website: www.vinci-closluce.com

Château de Chambord, located in the Loire Valley. This is about an hour drive south-west of Paris. Definitely one of the many impressive castles found in this country.

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Claude Monet's Garden in Giverny. I believe this is just north-west of Paris. Claude Monet's Garden is a must for impressionist art fans. Tour Monet's garden, walk over the Japanese bridge (just like in this picture), look at the lily pads on the pond, or the sunflowers in the garden. Tour his house and his art studio... this is where his inspiration came from. All those Monet paintings really do come to life after a visit here. They definitely hold more meaning for me now! Foundation Claude Monet has a gift shop located on the premises, so you can buy prints of Monet artwork and other garden-inspired gifts.

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Versailles - Yes, it's also a must see, but it's off the beaten track, north-west of Paris. History buffs and romantics will love this attraction equally. The building's famous for the Treaty of Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors, gorgeous never-ending gardens, living quarters of French royalty, among others. www.chateauversailles.fr for more info.

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