Situated in the heart of Sologne, the Château de Chambord has been dazzling its visitors for five hundred years. A genuine architectural marvel, Chambord is emblematic of the French Renaissance throughout the world. As an affirmation of royal power and evocation of the ideal city, the monument remains an enigma that has yet to divulge all its secrets. An utterly unique, magical atmosphere engulfs the arriving visitor who has traversed the forest and come face to face with architecture imagined by François I and inhabited by the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci.
Constructed from 1519 at the request of François I, lover of the arts and a fervent hunter, the Château de Chambord is a palace that the king displayed to ambassadors and suzerains as a symbol of his power inscribed in stone. Built in the heart of the Sologne marshlands, Chambord represents an extraordinary architectural achievement. The castle’s plan and decors were designed to take shape around a central axis, the celebrated double-helix staircase inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. Only under the reign of Louis XIV was château construction finally completed. During the 18th century, extensive work was initiated within its confines; the need to ensure warmth and comfort impelled its different occupants to install permanent furnishing.
Visiting Chambord for a few hours, you will stroll through 500 event-filled years of French history. Staircases, galleries, terraces, large rooms and small cabinets offer invitations to roam around to your heart’s content. Indeed, Chambord is not just another castle. When you come to Chambord, you are entering a world apart, permeated with mystery, which opens gateways to Renaissance genius.
From the outset of its existence, Chambord has been dedicated to the arts. In 1670 Molière’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme premiered in the château; Louis XIV was looking on. Faithful to time-honored tradition, since 2010 the estate has been hosting high-quality cultural programs (music, exhibitions, readings, shows…).
The Château de Chambord cannot possibly be dissociated from its natural environment, the forest. Covering 13500 acres and encircled by 32 kilometers (20 miles) of boundary walls, the National Estate of Chambord is the largest enclosed park in Europe. When you come to Chambord, you can explore an untold number of pathways hidden from view, admire unspoiled landscapes, have a chance to cross paths with wild animals, and discover the magnificent French gardens imagined under the reign of Louis XIV and comprehensively restored in 2017. Chambord also proposes numerous open-air activities within its park: horse show; carriage ride; visit of the reserve in a 4 x 4 vehicle; tours on boat, by foot, or on bike. You can organize your days on the estate as you like.
