In the heart of the forest of Boulogne abounding in game, on the site of a fortress, King François I built an imposing, richly decorated residence as his hunting lodge in the 16th century. A Renaissance masterpiece, the Château de Chambord is the biggest in the Loire Valley, with 440 rooms, 800 carved capitals and 282 fireplaces!
This striking and elegant building consists of a central keep with four round towers and a surrounding wall. Its famous double spiral staircase is a remarkable architectural feat. This ingenious construction allows two people to go up and down the stairs without passing each other!
After visiting the apartments, a walk around the château terrace is mandatory. From there, the view of thousands of attic windows, chimneys, capitals, spires and little steeples of the building makes an amazing picture. The terrace of the keep also offers a beautiful view of the park of Chambord national estate. A hunting reserve, the park is surrounded by a 32-km wall, making it the largest enclosed forested area in Europe. Visitors wishing to go for a walk can do so along the numerous waymarked footpaths. Horse-drawn carriage tours are also available from the Marshal of Saxony stables.
