Chateau de Chambord

Chateau de Chambord is located in Chambord, France.  The castle was built in the 16^th century to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francois I, but it was never completed.  The chateau is the largest in the Loire Valley and one of the most recognized chateaux in the world.  The architecture is French Renaissance with a blending of French medieval and classical Italian structures.  Chambord’s layout was typical of a castle keep, with corner towers, defense walls, and a moat.  Nevertheless, these additions were added for decoration purposes, since the castle wasn’t designed to provide defenses.  Chambord has a central keep with four bastion towers at the corners.  The chateau boasts 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases.  In the wake of the French Revolution, some furnishings were sold and timber was removed from the castle.  The building was for the most part left abandoned through the 19^th century.  The chateau is open to the public and is surrounded by a park like setting.

www.lahilden.com