Château de Chambord, Renaissance château in the Loire Valley, France
Château de Chambord is a Renaissance château in the Loire Valley, built in pale limestone with a central keep flanked by four large corner towers. Its roofline is covered with a forest of turrets, chimneys and dormers that make the building instantly recognisable from a distance.
Construction began in 1519 under King Francis I, who wanted a royal hunting seat on the edge of his territories. Over the centuries the château changed hands several times and was only taken over by the French state in the 19th century.
The double helix staircase in the central keep is built so that two people can climb up and down at the same time without ever crossing paths. Those who reach the top can look down through the open centre and watch the other person descend without having met them.
The château is open almost all year round but closes on a few public holidays. The interior covers many floors and long corridors, so comfortable shoes are a good idea before setting out.
The château sits within a walled park that is considered the largest enclosed forest in Europe, ringed by a wall about 20 miles (32 km) long. Visitors who walk the woodland paths may come across wild boar or deer roaming freely among the trees.
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