"Château de Chambord" Chambord by black_mimi99

Chambord Travel Guide: 92 reviews and 303 photos

Absolutely Breathtaking

When I saw this Château from far away its an amazing one. Very well restored. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and every thing was clearly laid out. And then when the car move closer to the Château.... absolutely breathtaking!

The Château of Chambord in one of the loveliest Renaissance buildings in the Valley of the Loire. It is the largest castle in the Loire Valley, but was built to serve only as a hunting lodge for King François I, who maintained his royal residences at Château de Blois and at Château d'Amboise.
Building of the chateau was begun by Francis I in 1519, and was completed in 1547.

The structure, containing 440 rooms, 365 fireplace, 13 great staircases, and stables to accommodate 1200 horses, stands in a park surrounded by a wall of 22 miles in circumference.
For more than 80 years after the death of King François 1 in 1574, French kings all but abandoned the castle, allowing it to fall into decay. Finally, in 1639 King Louis XIII gave it to his brother, Gaston d'Orleans, who saved the castle from ruin by carrying out much restoration work. King Louis XIV had the great keep restored and furnished the royal apartments. The king then added a 300-horse stable, enabling him to use the castle as a hunting lodge and a place to entertain such notables as Molière for a few weeks each year. Nonetheless, Louis XIV abandoned the castle in 1685.

viewed from the north - mi's

Roof Line

roof line - mi's

The roofscape of Chambord contrasts with the masses of its masonry and has often been compared with the skyline of a town: it shows eleven kinds of towers and three types of chimneys, without symmetry, framed at the corners by the massive towers. The design parallels are north Italian and Leonardesque.

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:Absolutely Breathtaking Château!

Last visit to Chambord: Dec 2007
Intro Updated Dec 16, 2007
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (10)

Roof Things to Do (10)

more about the skyline.... more travel advice

Roof Things to Do (10)

On the roof I can see amazing decorated roof line, sooo great design and its so nice to be here and see around on the... more travel advice

Deer's Horns Collection Things to Do (10)

more collection.... more travel advice

Deer's Horns Collection Things to Do (10)

more travel advice

Comments (6)

Reply
- Report abuse
ThiagoRamos Nov 12, 2009 at 6:57 PM

Great page!!! I´m loking forward to visit Chambord Chateau. Thank you for the preview!!!
Reply
- Report abuse
vinc_bilb Oct 14, 2009 at 1:17 PM

Excellent photos Mimi, bravo :) I visited Chambord for ... the 1st time in August.
Reply
- Report abuse
hunterV Nov 19, 2008 at 12:11 PM

Amazing architecture and exhibits! You are right, Mimi: Absolutely Breathtaking ! Merci!
Reply
- Report abuse
cokes Dec 17, 2007 at 2:51 PM

This place has many beautiful Medieval Buildings Mimi. Its great that you getting to visit all these great places.
Reply
- Report abuse
Kuznetsov_Sergey Dec 17, 2007 at 6:48 AM

Thanks Mimi for refreshing sweet memories from far 1995... Wonderful photos which I couldn't take then...
Reply
- Report abuse
SLLiew Dec 17, 2007 at 6:17 AM

Wow...what a beautiful chateau. Great photos. Thanks for sharing...merci beaucoup. SL :)