Chambord - Château de Chambord

The mighty Château of Chambord, a forerunner of Versailles, lies on the Cosson, a left-bank tributary of the Loire. It measures 117 m/384ft by 156 m/512ft and has no fewer than 440 rooms. A particularly notable feature is its large double staircase. Construction began in 1519, in the reign of Francis I, who spared no expense, and even had the Loire diverted to enhance the effect of the Château. The treaty of 1552 under which the German princes ceded the three bishoprics of Metz, Toulon and Verdun to France was signed here. The Château was also a favorite residence of later kings (except Henry III and IV). Louis XIV frequently stayed here, and Molière wrote several of his comedies in the Château, including the "Bour- geois Gentilhomme" (1670). In the 17th C. the Château was granted by Louis XV to Maurice of Saxony. It suffered no major damage during the French Revolution, though all the furniture was sold. Chambord became State property in 1930.

The park, which has an area of 5,500 hectares/13,600 acres, four-fifths of it under forest, is surrounded by a wall 32km/20mi long (the longest in France), with six gates giving access to six avenues which lead to the castle. The very beautiful terrace, constructed under Italian influence, was a central feature of court life when the king was in residence.