Château de Chambord: Tickets

Château de Chambord Tickets - Prices and Visitor Information

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What is Château de Chambord?

• Château de Chambord is the largest and one of the most visited châteaux in the Loire Valley.
• Built during the French Renaissance under King Francis I, it is known for its architecture, vast royal estate and its double-helix staircase which is believed to have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.
• Visitors can see grand royal apartments, rooftop terraces, formal French gardens and one of the most impressive castles in France.

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Quick Information

• Château de Chambord Address: Château de Chambord, 41250, Chambord
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:00
• Recommended Visit Duration: Around 3 - 4 hours
• Best For: Families, history and architecture enthusiasts and photography lovers.

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Is Château de Chambord Worth Visiting?

• If you are interested in historic castles, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and French cultural heritage, Château de Chambord is well worth visiting.
• As the largest château in the Loire Valley and one of the finest examples of French Renaissance architecture, it is widely regarded as one of France's most spectacular castles.

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What You Can See At Château de Chambord

Visitors can access various areas of the château, including:

• The royal apartments with their elegant furnishings.
• Enjoy the Renaissance architecture, rooftop terraces and formal gardens.
• Various exhibitions on display throughout the château, including historic works of art and decorative collections.

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About Château de Chambord

The estate is steeped in French cultural history and heritage. Château de Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley and one of the most famous castles in France. It has over 400 rooms, 80+ staircases and 365 fireplaces.

The Renaissance castle was commissioned by King Francis I of France in the early 16th century as he wanted to use it as a hunting lodge, as well as a symbol of his wealth and power.

Construction began in 1519, but due to the enormous scale of the project, the château wasn’t fully completed until the reign of Louis XIV. It combines traditional medieval French architecture with elegant Italian Renaissance influences, partly due to the involvement of Italian architect Domenico da Cortona.

Highlights of the castle

• ‍Double helix staircase: One of the château's most famous features is its double helix staircase. The design allows two people to go up or down the stairs without ever crossing paths, and it is widely believed to have been inspired by ideas from Leonardo da Vinci.
• Royal Apartments and Rooftop Terraces: Visitors can see the Royal Apartments, admire artworks displayed throughout the château and enjoy panoramic views from the rooftop terraces.
• ‍Towers and Turrets: The château’s dramatic skyline of towers, turrets and ornate chimneys creates one of the most recognisable silhouettes in France.
• ‍Formal French Gardens: The château has beautiful Renaissance gardens that surround it and visitors can hire a bicycle to explore the enormous royal estate.
• Equestrian Shows and Events: Château de Chambord has a long history of equestrian-related activities and still hosts shows during the summer months.
• Boat Ride: Visitors can hire electric boats and enjoy a relaxing trip along the Cosson River which offers a different perspective of the château and its grounds.

The château fell into disrepair over the centuries. It managed to survive the French Revolution relatively intact and had periods of restoration and renovation.

During the 20th century (specifically 1939 - 1945 during World War II) it was used to store art that was transferred from French museums. It was done to protect the pieces in case the museums were destroyed by bombs and because the Nazis routinely looted museums looking for important pieces to steal.

Several important pieces (such as Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’, Delacroix’s 'Liberty Guiding the People' and Raphael's 'The Lady with a Unicorn') were moved to Château de Chambord and other Loire Valley castles in order to protect them and they were later safely returned to their various museums once the war had ended.

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