Artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life at Clos Luce in Amboise, France. He was a special guest of Francois I, whose castle was only a few metres down the hill. In between Clos Luce and the Chateau d'Amboise, several dwellings were built into the hillside. Some of them have survived centuries and have been adapted for modern living.
A stone stairway leads from the street to a home carved into the hillside.
Walking down the street towards the town of Amboise, we noticed this old working chimney.
An ancient house has been revamped with stucco and fitted with modern conveniences, including a satellite dish. I don't think I would want to live in a place where natural light is limited.
What an amazing village. I agree with you, I would need more natural light, please.
Posted by: Madeline | 10 December 2007 at 09:54
This post has me wanting more of your beautiful pics of Clos Luce, Tara! Such vivid images...
Posted by: Bhavna | 08 December 2007 at 06:54
Tara,
These photos and descriptions remind me of the reasons I so love france. When we went to Amboise for a half a day i knew I'd have to return for a longer period, say days. And now you peaked that desire even more. We never did get over to Leonardo's place. Well. it's always good to have goals for the future!
rel
Posted by: rel | 07 December 2007 at 10:54
My husband is reading this over my shoulder..."Oh yeah, he says, that's Clos Luce!"
I spin around..."You've been there?"
"Yes, I guesss you DON'T know everything about me, do you shugs?"
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian | 07 December 2007 at 05:11
I love these dwellings! They have become one with the land...so surreal. I love it, it almost has a mythical feel to it Tara.
Thanks for these photos!
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian | 07 December 2007 at 05:08
another treasure from you sweet tara. thank you thank you!
Posted by: studio wellspring | 07 December 2007 at 00:03
Though I don't know that I would want to live with so few windows, all burrowed in, I must admit they do look intriguing from the outside - like little hobbit homes in the hills. I wonder how Leonardo managed 'back in the day' with so few windows and only candlelight?
Posted by: tinker | 06 December 2007 at 17:58
Amazing a house built into the stone!! What a thrill to come upon these homes can you imagine living in one!! Great photos Tara.hugs NG
Posted by: naturegirl | 06 December 2007 at 17:28
Berm or cave type houses have been with us since. . .well, I'm not sure how long, but we have always sought refuge in rock. Odd when you think on a geologic level, that rock is simply dust solifided.
Posted by: Mary T. | 06 December 2007 at 15:55
Must have been wonderful to be surrounded by all that history. I agree about the natural light!
Posted by: My Melange | 06 December 2007 at 13:25
This is incredible! It looks so much like the town where I came from!!! Only, my parents built a new house on a hill.. I wanted to live in the dreamy dilapidated village, built on a cliff... With hindreds of little stairs.. Alas, no luck!!! I can lamost see Leonarda walking with tons of wrapped canvas in one hand.. a funny hat on... A lantern in the other..... Oh that time..... So lovely there!!! xxo
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | 06 December 2007 at 03:19
I was just going to say, I wonder how dark they are inside. But I bet way back then, it was easy to keep them warm.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 05 December 2007 at 23:29
Tara, this is very interesting! Thank you for sharing it. :-)
Have you read Michèle Desbordes' novella "La Demande", about da Vince last years in France? (ISBN 2-86432-303-6, more here, at the publisher's website: http://www.editions-verdier.fr/v3/oeuvre-demande.html). I loved that story, infact, I pulled the book off its shelf and will read it again.
Posted by: Merisi's Vienna | 05 December 2007 at 21:45
I'm with you on the light issue though I love the way that last house is growing out of the hillside or is my eyesight so bad I am seeing things?
Posted by: Di Overton | 05 December 2007 at 20:56
Your photographs always capture the heart and the soul of the subject matter...even when they are "inanimate" objects!
Posted by: Cherie | 05 December 2007 at 20:06
Beautiful photos again, Tara - you manage to pull color out of the grayest scene! Those troglodytes are pretty depressing - I've been in a couple of fairly luxurious ones, but they always have that damp odor of stone. Most of the really small ones are used to store wine today, but not so long ago (20 years?..) there were sometimes families in them!
Posted by: Casey | 05 December 2007 at 19:45
Wow Tara! This house built into the hillside, I've never seen anything quite like this. I've seen houses built UNDER the ground, but these....wow...
Posted by: stephanie | 05 December 2007 at 18:35
Thanks for this, Tara -- I've seen houses built into the hillsides when travelling through France by train or car, but never got this close to any. Fascinating to know they're still being used.
Posted by: materfamilias | 05 December 2007 at 17:03
this is so inspiring for me...i love love love these images...blessings, rebecca
Posted by: Cre8Tiva | 05 December 2007 at 17:02
Wow - they're amazing! But that's a good point about the light. Damp would definitely be an issue too, I'd imagine. But how fantastic all the same - I'd love to visit.
Sarah
Posted by: Passementerie | 05 December 2007 at 16:59
I agree. I think I would be claustrophobic in this kind of house, but how amazing to be in a home that old. The satellite dish is really jarring.
Posted by: Kimberly Ann | 05 December 2007 at 16:47
What you share is magic and so are YOU.
Love you~
Christmas Cheer all through the year.
Love Jeanne ^j^
Posted by: Jeanne | 05 December 2007 at 12:31
Me neither, I need light, my soul needs light, lots of it...
Posted by: meredith | 05 December 2007 at 11:55