The Loire Valley – Chateau de Chambord

Still a little groggy from lack of sleep, I left the city of Paris at an ungodly hour of around 7am and travelled to the vast country side of France – the Loire Valley, which houses many of the famous chateaus in the country.  One of them is the Chateau de Chambord, where I am heading.

Chambord in Loire Valley

Chambord is one of the most recognisable and largest Chateau in the Loire Valley.  It was originally built to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francois I however, he spent barely seven weeks there in total including his short hunting visits.

Chateau de Chambord, originally a hunting lodge for King Francois I

As the Chateau had been constructed with the purpose of short stays, it was actually not practical to live there on a longer-term basis. The massive rooms, open windows and high ceilings meant heating was impractical.

Chambord in Loire Valley

Chateu de Chambord, hunting lodge of King Francois I

One of the highlights of this chateu is the double helix open staircase which ascend the three floors without ever meeting. There are suggestions that Leonardo da Vinci may have designed the staircase, but this has never been confirmed.

Sort of light house illuminating the double helix stair case from the above