Loire Valley Castles - Chambord Castle – 1st stop

I had the opportunity to spend 2 special days in “Pays de la Loire” in France, the ex-royal residence during the Valois dynasty, what an experience!

Chambord Castle - 1^st stop

The masterpiece of the French Renaissance, Chambord Castle was the first stop. Over 426 rooms, a magnificent staircase, roof-terraces with a panoramic view on the estate, more than 1,500 works of art: tapestries, paintings and furniture astonished me and I’m sure that each visitor left the castle facinated.
The turreted Chambord Castle building began in 1519 for King François 1st who wanted to combine the Italian Renaissance and French Medieval architectures. The Chambord Castle was intended to be only a hunting lodge.
The construction of Chambord castle took more than a quarter of a century, more than 1,800 men worked on the castle.
The property is surrounded by 20 miles of walls which protect more than 13,000 acres of woods.

The worlds most famous spiral stair

The castle has many magnificent features, one being the very unique double-helix staircase, rumored to be designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

The staircase is two spiral staircases wrapped around each other, so that one going up and one coming down would not meet the other along the way, the double spiral staircase is supported by eight square pillars. In the center of the keep, the double spiral staircase links the castle's three floors, winding around a central axis.

The top of the staircase guides you out to a magnificent rooftop terrace on top of the castle. From here you can walk among the towers, elongated chimneys, gables, domes and spires that give outstanding views over the Chambord estate.

Salamanders and F’s symbol

Seen on all ceilings in the castle, the salamander is the King François 1st’ emblem. In the medieval iconography the salamander represents "the just who never loses God’s confidence in the middle of tribulations." François 1st adapted this motto for himself: Nutrisco et extinguo (“I feed and I extinguish”)

The monogram F’s are surrounded with a knot, the knot of the Order of La Cordelière, the emblem of Louise de Savoie, his mother.

King’s Room

The only rooms of the castle that are furnished are the rooms of François 1st and Louis XIV. Chambord was never a place for living, François 1st spent only 7 weeks in total at his “hunting lodge”, maintaining his royal residences at Blois Castle and at Amboise Castle.

The magnificent rooftop terrace

One of the castle’s most famous features is its rooftop terrace, which has a collection of elongated chimneys, bell-shaped domes, miniature spires, fantasy sculptures, and carved gables. Catherine de Medici used to observe the stars from this rooftop terrace of Chambord Castle.

It was an incredible experience, I left from there, following the schedule to Blois Castle, thinking that there could not be another castle more beautiful and amazing than Chambord…later I changed my mind of course.

Chambord worth a visit, it shocks by the absolutely breathtaking architectural structure and the royal power.

Other Chambord Castle pictures:

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