Château de Chambord

Description

"Château de Chambord" in #Chambord 🇫🇷, begun in 1519 under King Francis I and mostly finished by 1547, ranks as the largest Loire Valley château. Built as a luxurious hunting lodge rather than a fortified castle, it blends traditional French medieval formswith innovative Italian Renaissance elements like open loggias, large windows, and self-contained room suites. Attributed to Domenico da Cortona and possibly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, the design centers on a spectacular double-spiral staircase: two independent spirals rising three floors without meeting, lit from above. The massive structure features 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, 84 staircases, and an elaborate roofscape, cupolas, and chimneys.