The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord in the department of Loir-et-Cher is the second most visited château after the Palace of Versailles, and the largest in the Loire Valley. Built as a hunting lodge a young and extravagant King François I, it is situated in the heart of the largest enclosed forested park with a game reserve in Europe (13,000‑acre).
Chambord blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures, with a stunning geometric clarity and a harmony of proportions, all on the grandest scale. With its elaborately developed roofline, bristling with cupolas, turrets, chimneys, akin to the skyline of a city.
The château boasts 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 77 staircases. A notable feature is the famous double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, then architect at the Court. Chambord is listed as a World Heritage cultural site since 1981.
Experience a virtual tour at the Chambord website.
