France Loire Château de Chambord Skip-the-Line Ticket - Garden Included

Château de Chambord is the largest and grandest of the Loire Valley castles. It combines French medieval heritage with the innovative architecture of the Italian Renaissance, was added to the World Heritage List in 1981, and is regarded by the French as a national treasure. It was built in 1519 by François I of the Valois dynasty as a hunting palace and has a history of nearly 500 years. The castle is surrounded by river water, backed by a large forest and faces the Chambord garden, where trees, flowers, sculptures and clear lake water come together.

Grand scale and the royal residence

The castle is majestic, more than 100 m long and wide, with white and gray walls bearing very fine carvings. It has 77 stairs, 282 chimneys and 426 rooms. The royal residence on the first floor holds François I's bedroom, study and prayer room, and its beautifully carved vaulted ceiling is well worth seeing. The interior is decorated with finely crafted velvet, the gold-edged walls on a white background are brilliant, and the tapestries on the walls are works of art in themselves. The small theater in the south wing is where works by Molière premiered.

François I's emblem and the tower-top terrace

The vault of the second-floor hall has a unique carving combining François I's initial "F" with his salamander emblem, and the hall has a fireplace for heating. The wide and unique tower-top terrace is where the king and the royal family enjoyed the view of the garden. Climb to the top of the 56 m tower to overlook the surroundings, including the Chambord forest and the Loire River. There is a café on the terrace where you can enjoy a drink with the view.