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A day at Chambord is barely enough for a visit to the domain of the most fascinating château in the Loire valley. At the age of 25, François 1er realised a dream by having this magnificient palace built in the middle of an estate populated by stags and wild boar. In 1519, the ambitious young king needed to establish his power.
Chambord was therefore designed as a genuine fortress with a keep and a surrounding wall with broad towers. But it is also an architectural masterpiece combining the tradition of French master masons with the lightness of Italian Renaissance buildings. Attribued to Leonardo da Vinci, its design is distinguished by its magnificient double-return stairs. Bristling with numerous chimneys, turrets and dormer windows which seem to lift it up towards the sky, Chambord recalls the wondrous tales of chivalry. Its imposing dimensions defy the imagination : a façade 156 metres long and a height of 56 metres quite a building. The Château was completed by Louis XIV in 1685.
The major collections that it houses reflect aspects of life over the years in this prestigious residence, inhabited for only twenty years over a period of five centuries. Encircled by a 32 kilometre long wall, the Chambord estate, today the largest enclosed forest park in Europe, is still home to abundant wild fauna. This sumptuous meeting place for hunting was also the setting for royal celebrations.
This tradition is kept alive today by the enchanting performances held in the estate : "les Métamorphoses", son et lumière performance, from June to September.
Location - Access : Located 20 km South-East from Blois, A10, exit Mer, driving from Paris ; exit Blois, driving from Tours. At 2 h from Paris.
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