EuropeSights

Historic Mansion sights in Europe

  1. A

    Hôtel de Sully

    Dating from the early 17th century, this aristocratic mansion has two wonderful Renaissance-style courtyards – well worth the trip here. Combine them with a look at a first-class photographic exhibition at the house’s Jeu de Paume – Site Sully, a branch of the more famous Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume.

    reviewed

  2. B

    La Maison de Corsaire

    You can visit this 18th-century mansion and historic monument, once owned by corsair (privateer) François Auguste Magon. Guided tours are in French; descriptions are available in English.

    reviewed

  3. Le Clos Lucé

    Leonardo da Vinci (pronounced van-see in French) took up residence in the grand manor house at Le Clos Lucé in 1516 on the invitation of François I, who was greatly enamoured with the Italian Renaissance. Already 64 by the time he arrived, da Vinci spent his time sketching, tinkering and dreaming up new contraptions: the house is jammed with scale models of many of his inventions. The expansive, beautiful gardens wind through forest and stream and are dotted with full-size replicas of his inventions including a protoautomobile, tank, bridges, hydraulic turbine and even a primitive helicopter. He died here on 2 May 1519.

    reviewed