05/06/2026
On May 2, 1519, Leonardo da Vinci died in Amboise at age 67. He wasn’t just the mind behind the Mona Lisa. He was sketching machines, studying anatomy, and thinking through ideas that wouldn’t make sense to most people for another few hundred years.
If you visit Amboise today, it feels surprisingly small for someone of his scale. The Château d’Amboise overlooks the Loire River, and tucked within its grounds is the Chapel of Saint Hubert where he is buried. It’s not grand or overwhelming. It’s quiet, and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
A lot of people don’t realize he spent his final years in France, invited by King Francis I. He lived nearby at Clos Lucé, where you can still see models built from his sketches. It gives you a clearer picture of how his mind worked, jumping between art, engineering, and science without any boundaries.
If you’re planning a visit, give yourself time to walk between the château and Clos Lucé. It’s a short distance, but it connects the final chapter of his life in a way that books don’t quite capture.
📍 Amboise, Loire Valley