Chateau De Chambord – A Renaissance masterpiece in the heart of the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley in France, located on the outskirts of Paris in the French countryside, is home to the multitude of castles in the country. There are several hundred castles here and more than sixty of them are open to tourists. The Loire Valley is often referred to as the Garden of France due to its location, but it has also earned the name Valley of the Kings due to the abundance of castles built by kings during the Renaissance period.

One of the most famous castles is the Chateau de Chambord. With over 440 rooms, 18 floors, and 5,440 acres of land, this estate was originally built as a hunting lodge for Francois I during the Renaissance. Francois I was especially interested in both hunting and architecture, as evidenced by Chambord’s general appearance. The architecture of this castle is truly spectacular with high terraces overlooking the Great Lawn, Grand Canal and Chambord Forest. Inside there is also a unique double spiral staircase that people can use and never see each other due to its design. There are eleven rooms open to the public, one of which was the former hunting room of Francois I.

There are also collections of furniture, paintings and tapestries in the Chambord. The personal collections of Francois I and Louis XIV and their families are still here and open to the public.

The Chateau de Chambord offers many fun and educational experiences during your visit. There are several classes that children can participate in such as the half-day workshops. In them, students can “meet” historical characters played by actors in the Moliere theater company, and they are transformed in the Renaissance era. These interactive classes allow the student to explore the secret passages of the castle, the gardens and educate them about life in the Renaissance, as well as about famous figures of this time.

The castle also opens its doors to companies or individuals who wish to rent the facilities. People who want to organize parties, galas, seminars or fairs can reserve certain rooms for their specific events.

Chateau de Chambord is probably the most extravagant castle of them all in the Loire Valley and is a “must see” for every traveler to the Loire Valley in France.