In 1519, King François I decided to build the Château de Chambord on marshy land on the banks of the River Cosson, in the middle of a forest rich in game, as “a great, beautiful and sumptuous edifice”. A building that would enable him to indulge his passion for hunting and, above all, assert his power in Europe. Strongly fascinated and influenced by Italian art and artists, he had a château built that blended French and Italian influences.
Construction was interrupted between 1522 and 1526, due to the defeat of Pavia in the Sixth Italian War. On the return of François I, work resumed without interruption for 20 years, until his death in 1547.
In 1539, the Emperor Charles V was received by the King in what was still only the keep under construction. The “royal” wing (the king’s dwelling wing) to the east and the chapel wing to the west were added to this first building, and continued under the reign of his son Henri II and grandson Charles IX. The complex, as we see it today, was completed by King Louis XIV in 1685.
October 2019 Leonard De Serres 2The château is built on the model of medieval fortified castles, with a central square building, the keep, and four towers at each corner. Inside the keep, there are five habitable levels built on the same model: four square apartments and four apartments in the round towers per level.
The double staircase is at the center of the building, giving access to the second floor (historic apartments), the second floor (dedicated to hunting and wildlife art) and the large terrace, before being crowned by the lantern tower and the fleur-de-lis, symbol of the French monarchy.
