From November 28, 2026, to January 3, 2027, the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise pays tribute to Leonardo da Vinci with "Automata and Mechanical Marvels," a Christmas filled with antique and rare automata, mechanical toys, and articulated figures.

In 1515, in Lyon, a mechanical lion approached the young Francis I, stopped, and opened its chest, from which sprang fleurs-de-lis. Its inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, would spend his final days at Clos Lucé, which this winter pays him a tribute as whimsical as it is poetic. The château is transformed into a Christmas workshop, while cogs and gears adorn the decorations and even the branches of the fir trees. During the holidays, workshops and automaton shows delight budding engineers, and two evening events extend the magic by lantern light.

Find all our end-of-year favorites in our selection of 13 fairytale castles to visit for Christmas.

Château du Clos Lucé
From November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027
2 rue du Clos Lucé, 37400 Amboise
Evening events on December 29 and 30

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