Loire Valley: Chambord

Among all the chateaux in Loire valley, the largest and grandest of all (I coined it the mother of all castles) is Chambord. It took 30+ years to build but King Francois I only stayed 42 days in it because he found it too big and draughty. -_-" oh the fickle-minds of the royalties...

Grandest of all

At the back of Chambord castle

the rectangle keep

modeled according to symmetry

the double helix staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci

two person walking on opposite stairs will see each other via the little openings in the centre but will never meet

The salamander is the emblem of Fracois I and is etched everywhere in the castle

lantern tower on the rooftop

garden of Chambord

Man made reservoir was added later to the original hunting ground

External loggia staircase leading to the king's bedroom

top of helix stairs - F for Francois and his emblem

museum of hunting

the king's bedroom with hidden interconnecting passages to the queen's

the queen's toilet display

queen's bedroom

display of carriages - travel in style