Château de Chambord
The largest château in the Loire Valley and King Francis I's hunting lodge. Its double helix staircase is said to be inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.
Château de Chambord was commissioned by Francis I in 1519 and is the pinnacle of French Renaissance architecture. It has more than 400 rooms, over 280 fireplaces and dozens of staircases. The rooftop is crowded with chimneys, towers and lantern-style skylights, looking like a small city in the sky. At the center, the double helix staircase has two flights that rise intertwined without ever meeting. It is believed to have been influenced by Leonardo da Vinci's design, as he died the same year the château was begun. The château is surrounded by one of Europe's largest enclosed forest parks, about 5,440 hectares, encircled by a 32-km wall. You can rent bicycles or electric buggies or take a boat tour, and in autumn you can see herds of deer. Visiting tips: go up to the top-floor roof terrace first, then see the royal apartments on each floor and the hunting exhibits. The French formal garden was restored in 2017. Opening hours are about 09:00–17:00 (until 18:00 from April to October). Adult tickets cost about 16 euros, and you can rent a HistoPad tablet for a guided tour. Getting there: in peak season, a shuttle runs from Blois railway station to the château. By car it is about 20 km from Blois and about 1 hour from Tours.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00 (until 18:00 Apr–Oct)
Nearby sights
- Château de Cheverny
- Château de Beauregard
- Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin
- Château de Blois
- Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
- ZooParc de Beauval
- Château de Valençay
- Château de Chenonceau