Château de Chambord

Under King Francis I, the Loire Valley was the cultural center of France. The Château de Chambord, begun in 1519, was an ambitious project by the king, intended not only to serve as a hunting lodge but also to symbolize France's strength and power. Although Francis I spent only a few weeks there and his imperial ambitions were not realized, the castle even impressed Emperor Charles V during his visit in 1539. It served as an important hunting residence, accommodating thousands of people during large hunts. In 1552, the Treaty of Chambord was signed here. Louis XIV used it for opulent festivities and had Molière's ballet 'Le Bourgeois gentilhomme' premiered here in 1670. In the 18th century, it served as a residence for the exiled Polish King Stanislaus I Leszczyński and later for Marshal Maurice de Saxe, who drained the swamps and established a menagerie. During the French Revolution, the castle was plundered and was on the verge of demolition. In the 19th century, Napoleon gifted it to Louis-Alexandre Berthier. It served as a military hospital during the Franco-Prussian War and as a storage site for Louvre collections during World War II. Since 1981, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Chambord Castle is located in the commune of Chambord in the Loir-et-Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, France. It stands at an elevation of approximately 92 meters above sea level.

The Château de Chambord is now open to visitors and can be explored. It houses state rooms and rotating exhibitions.

• Donjon Beaugency (castle), approx. 19.9 km away
• Château Dunois (castle), approx. 20.0 km away
• Château de Meung-sur-Loire (castle), approx. 26.6 km away
• Château de Chaumont (castle), approx. 29.5 km away