"Our First Glimpses of the Chateau of Chambord" Chambord by hquittner

We drove the 7 km. from the Chateau de Colliers where we had spent the previous two nights, by the D112 through the forested park past the feeding areas for the red deer (who were not in view). We had decided that it was not worth getting up before 6AM to see them feed. The day before we had visited the spacious tailored grounds of Chenonceau and the rambling and enclosing eminence of Blois on its plateau. This was entirely different. The vast fenced enclosure of a private game preserve is unusual. We arrived at the parking before we saw the castle. Beyond a lake-like moat reared up the extensive pile. Our eyeline saw amidst the mass, spiky tower-like structures like a compressed chessboard.

In the Game Preserve

As we proceded from the parking area, the details became clear. There is a square central keep with corner turrets capped by lanterns and lateral wings leading to similar capped turrets. The spiky structures resolved into chimneys and dormers and in the center was a taller tower ultimately capped by fleur-de-lys. The elaborate and compelling Renaissance symmetry clearly proclaimed its beauty and importance.

• Pros:A Renaissance Beauty
• Cons:Hard to Get To
• In a nutshell:Well worth a Visit at least once