Western France has a rich history. Many emblematic figures have played important roles in the culture and history of the Loire Valley, Normandy and Brittany. By visiting these regions, you will learn more about the history of these figures and their influences, still visible today.
Leonardo Da Vinci
©ADT Touraine – Leonard de Serres
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest geniuses of the Renaissance, spent the last three years of his life in the Loire Valley, at Amboise, at the invitation of King Francis I.
In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci left Italy for France and the Loire Valley, where he was welcomed by King François I. The genius became Painter, Engineer and Architect of the King. King François I put the Château du Clos Lucé, near the royal château of Amboise, at his disposal. For 3 years, Leonardo da Vinci devoted himself to numerous projects, while continuing to paint and draw. On May 2, 1519, Leonardo da Vinci died at Le Clos Lucé in Amboise. He is buried in the chapel of the Château Royal d’Amboise since then.
©ADT Touraine – Gillard et Vincent
Today in the Loire Valley, you can visit the superb Château du Clos Lucé, built as a museum entirely dedicated to him. Here you can discover his inventions, models, drawings and manuscripts, as well as reconstructions of his workshops and bedroom. Although Leonardo da Vinci’s involvement in the construction of the Château de Chambord, the Loire Valley’s most emblematic chateau, has not been clearly established, it is highly probable that he was involved in its design, particularly with regard to the famous double-revolution staircase.
Leonardo da Vinci’s presence at Amboise helped establish the Loire Valley as an important center of the French Renaissance. His artistic, scientific and technical influence marked this period and left a lasting legacy in the region.
Jules Verne
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Born in Nantes in 1828, Jules Verne was deeply influenced by this port city on the Loire River. Growing up surrounded by ships and maritime stories, his imagination was fueled by dreams of exploration and distant lands.
This early fascination is reflected in his adventure novels like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Verne was also captivated by science and technology, filling his stories with futuristic inventions and machines.
To learn more about his life and legacy, visit the Jules Verne Museum in Nantes or explore Les Machines de l’île, a fantastical world inspired by his imagination. In 2028, a great Jules Verne Museum will open its doors in the City of Imagination!
Jules Verne’s bond with Nantes and the Loire Valley left a lasting imprint on his visionary work.
Joan of Arc
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Joan of Arc is an iconic French historical figure who played a crucial role in the Hundred Years’ War. Her actions left their mark on both the Loire Valley and Normandy.
It was in the Loire Valley that Joan of Arc performed her greatest military feats. In 1429, Joan of Arc lifted the siege of Orléans, a decisive victory that marked a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.
It was in Normandy that Joan of Arc met her tragic end. In 1431, Joan of Arc was tried by an ecclesiastical tribunal and sentenced to death for heresy and witchcraft. She was burned alive in Rouen’s Place du Vieux Marché.
Joan of Arc’s actions were decisive in the course of the Hundred Years’ War, particularly in the Loire Valley and Normandy. She became a symbol of French resistance. You can take advantage of guided tours of Orléans and Rouen to follow in Joan of Arc’s footsteps.
Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel
©ADT Touraine – David Darrault
Château de l’Islette, near Tours in the Loire Valley, is an important site in the love story between sculptors Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel.
Camille Claudel became Rodin’s pupil, collaborator and mistress. In the early 1890s, they rented the Château de l’Islette, near Azay-le-Rideau, to work and live out their romance away from the prying eyes of Paris. The romantic, peaceful atmosphere was conducive to their creativity. Rodin worked on his famous Balzac, while Camille Claudel sculpted La Petite Châtelaine, a bronze of which is on display at the château.
In the Loire Valley, you can visit the Château de l’Islette, which preserves the memory of their stay, notably through an exhibition of some of their works.
This château is a place steeped in history, both romantic and artistic. It bears witness to the passion and creativity of Rodin and Claudel, two major figures in French sculpture.
Other emblematic figures who left their mark on Western France
© Valentin Pacaut – The Explorers
- William the Conqueror (1028-1087): Duke of Normandy and King of England, he conquered England in 1066 and made history with the Battle of Hastings. The Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy tells his story.
(As part of its redeployment project, the Bayeux Tapestry Museum will be closed to the public for works from September 1, 2025. Reopening is scheduled for October 2027. The Bayeux Tapestry will not be visible during this period.) - Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199): King of England and Duke of Normandy, he is renowned for his bravery and participation in the Crusades. His recumbent tomb is located at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud in the Loire Valley.
- Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204): Queen of France and then Queen of England, she played a major political role and encouraged the development of culture and the arts. Her recumbent tomb is located at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud in the Loire Valley.
- Catherine de Médicis (1519-1589): Queen of France and regent, she exerted considerable influence during the Wars of Religion and contributed to the rise of the French Renaissance. In particular, she built much of the Château de Chenonceau, in the Loire Valley.
- Kings and queens of France: Numerous kings and queens of France have resided in the châteaux of the Loire Valley, including François I, Henri II, Charles IX, Henri III, Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV. They helped make the Loire Valley a major political and cultural center.
©Danielle Dumas – Normandie Tourisme
- Claude Monet (1840-1926): Impressionist painter, he often depicted Normandy landscapes, notably the cliffs of Étretat and Rouen Cathedral. Claude Monet settled in the magnificent Giverny Gardens in Normandy, which can be visited.
- Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880): A realist writer, he was born in Rouen in Normandy and notably penned Madame Bovary.
- Marcel Proust (1871-1922): Writer, he spent part of his childhood and youth in Normandy, notably in Cabourg.
- Jacques Prévert (1900-1977): Poet and screenwriter, he lived in Normandy and wrote many poems about the region.
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image sources:
- Detail of part of the gardens of the Chambord Castle in France: Saturnino Perez Garrido
- France Trip Secrets – Clos Luce castle in the Loire Valley – ©ADT Touraine – Gillard et Vincent: ©ADT Touraine - Gillard et Vincent
- France Trip Secrets – Chambord castle in the Loire Valley and bike tour © Ludovic Letot: © Ludovic Letot
- France Trip Secrets – Women tour in the Loire Valley – ©L’amour de Paris – 2: ©L'amour de Paris
- France Trip Secrets – Brittany city cultural tour Saint Malo – ©VERNEUIL Teddy – LEZBROZ: ©VERNEUIL Teddy - LEZBROZ
- France Trip Secrets – Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley – © Léonard de Serres: © Léonard de Serres
- France Trip Secrets – Honeymoon in the Loire Valley – ©photographfrance – Mark Playle: ©photographfrance - Mark Playle
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