Today’s motto is “Rise and shine and live your fairytale!”
The Chateau de Chambord: a dream castle
Once upon a time, there was a king who lived in a magnificent castle. From these first ‘original’ words, you’re likely to have guessed that today’s travel destination is a dream castle, like the one depicted in fairy-tales. Pack your bags, we’re going to the romantic Loire Valley, in France. There is plenty of choice of castles in this region. And for the most part, they are sumptuous Renaissance palaces. But among them all, my absolute favourite is the Château de Chambord.
Chambord castle in the Loire Valley
Built between 1519 and 1547 by king Francis I, this hunting lodge stands out with an unmistakable silhouette. With its hundreds of chimneys, turrets, and dormers, this castle is the gem of the Loire Valley’s skyline. This imposing structure consists of four round towers and a central square keep with a spectacular double helix staircase, connecting the three floors. There is one peculiarity: two interlocking spirals never cross so that two people can go up and down without ever running into one another.
The story of the largest castle in the Loire valley
Even though no architectural plan exists, its extraordinary complexity shows the influence of Leonardo da Vinci. That’s no big surprise since the Italian genius spent the last three years of his life in France, in the residence of Cloux, under the patronage of Francis I. Despite its gigantic size (the largest castle in the Loire valley), the King sojourned here for a total of 72 days only! And after his death, the residence fell into complete disuse, until 1639 when King Louis XIII gave it to his brother. But the one who brought it back to its original splendour was the Sun King, his successor. Not only did he undertake some main restoration work, but he also had the royal apartments furnished and the construction completed.
Valuable treasures in the castle
As the court was itinerant, the furniture moved from one residence to another (or at least, until the 18th century). But during the turmoil of the French Revolution, several beautiful artworks were sold off. Still, today the Chateau de Chambord is not an empty treasure chest. Some rooms house high-quality sets of furniture, including the Sun King’s sumptuous chamber. As sumptuous as it is, there is no better way to call it a day than going on the rooftop terraces! It’s hard not to be impressed by the stunning view of the countryside that extends as far as the eye can see.
If you liked the Chambord castle in the Loire valley, you may also be interested in Vaux le Vicomte castle near Paris
Watch our recommended video on Chambord castle
(Source: Rick Steves’ Europe)
