HISTORY
A magical atmosphere as soon as you arrive. Captivated by a wondrous forest, you will discover extraordinary architecture imagined by François I and imbued with the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci. When you visit Chambord, over a few hours you will explore half a millennium of French history.
THE CHÂTEAU
Chambord is a radically unique work, one of the jewels in the heritage of humankind. Its vocation is at once symbolic, aesthetic and spiritual. It is not only an affirmation of royal power, but also an evocation of the ideal city; as a monument, it remains an enigma that has yet to divulge all its secrets. Chambord is perhaps the equivalent in architecture of Mona Lisa in painting.
AS HISTORY UNFOLDS
Unique architectural jewel built starting in 1519 at the request of François I, a lover of the arts and passionate hunter, the château of Chambord has become emblematic of the French Renaissance in Europe and throughout the world.
A palace rises up from the heart of the Sologne marshlands. A dashing young king, François I, has ordered its construction. The château of Chambord is not designed as a permanent residence, and François only stays there for a few weeks. It is a remarkable architectural achievement that the king is proud to show to sovereigns and ambassadors as a symbol of his power engraved in stone. The plan of the castle and its decors stem from a central axis, the renowned double helix staircase, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, an ascending spiral leading to a profusion of chimneys and sculpted capitals on the terraces.
17TH CENTURY: APPLYING THE FINISHING TOUCHES
Only under the reign of Louis XIV is construction finally completed. During the same epoch the areas surrounding the château take on shape and form. Stables are set up outside while the Cosson river, which meanders through the park, is partially canalized to sanitize the site. Several times, the Sun King resides in the monument in the company of his court; the royal sojourns are occasions for grandiose hunting parties and festive entertainment; it is in Chambord, in 1670, that Moliere presents the premiere of his celebrated comedy, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.
18TH CENTURY: HOME IMPROVEMENT
During the 18th century, work is finally undertaken to equip and decorate the château interior, which is used by Louis XIV first to lodge his father-in-law Stanislas Leszczynski, king of Poland in exile from 1725 to 1733 and, much later, to accommodate Maurice of Saxe as a reward for his brilliant victory in the Battle of Fontenoy (1745). The need to bring warmth and comfort to the edifice leads its different occupants to permanently furnish the château and to adorn the apartments with woodwork, parquets, dummy ceilings and the private space of petits cabinets.
