Perhaps the most famous of the Loire Valley chateaux, Chambord is a vast Renaissance extravagance started by Francois I in the early 16th century as a hunting lodge (seriously) it contains over 400 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases. All this for a residence only used for about 2 months during Francois’s reign!
He
created sumptuous hunting grounds, surrounded by an uninterrupted wall of 32km to contain his potential prey of
deer and wild boar plus a stable for 1200 horses which were
used for riding and hunting within the grounds. You can
cycle or walk the grounds via the mar
ked out paths but even
the
shorter walks can take over an hour- such is the size of the
park. Wear sensible footwear for this visit and take plenty
of water. You can also ride horses or take a horse-drawn
cart from the stables where, during the summer months, there
is an equestrian show.
Inside
the chateau the only furnished rooms are the chambers of Francois I
and Louis
XIV plus a room dedicated to the toys of the Royals as the chateau had
apparently been ransacked of its furnishings during the Revolution. That
said you cannot fail to be impressed by the decoration, fittings and
internal architectural features of even its spacious empty rooms.
Its famous double spiral staircase is said to have been influenced by Lenardo da Vinci who was a guest of Francois I at Close-Luce near the royal residence at Amboise. The views of the external architecture from the roof terraces are breathtaking---why so much detail Francois?—I suppose because he could!
As with all the popular chateaux of the Loire it is better to visit before the large tourist parties arrive or after they have gone. Each evening in July and August, of 10 p.m. to midnight, the chateau façade is lit up in a way that blends the building to the forest through a sound and light show.
There are toilets and gift shops inside and outside the
chateau. Outside you will also find a restaurant, a newsagent and a cash
dispenser.
You can also hire bikes and boats within the grounds.
Chambord is 16 km east of Blois.
From Tours, take the A 10 towards Blois,
exit n° 16 towards Mer, then D 112 to Chambord.
From Paris, take the A10 motorway, and leave at the "Chambord" exit.
Tip: Rent bikes at Chambord