The long pale façade of Chambord with its round towers and crowded rooftop, seen across the water under white clouds

Heritage · Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire

Château de Chambord

Francis I's Renaissance hunting palace in the Loire Valley, with its double-helix staircase, forest of rooftop towers and a vast walled park

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Ambient sound · similar settingFrogs and crickets at a countryside pond at dusk

Photo: Dorian Mongel (@_dorian_) / Unsplash

Discover Château de Chambord

Chambord rises from flat woodland near the River Cosson, about 25 minutes' drive from Blois, its pale stone façade crowned by a skyline of turrets, chimneys, lanterns and dormers that looks more like a small city than a single roof. Inside, the building has some 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases, but most visitors head first for the central double-helix staircase, two intertwined flights that allow people to go up and down without meeting.

The staircase leads to the roof terraces, where you can walk among the carved chimneys and towers and look out over the formal French gardens and the forest. The surrounding estate, enclosed by a wall about 31 kilometres long, is a national park and game reserve where red deer and wild boar roam.

Don’t miss

01The double-helix staircase at the heart of the keep
02The roof terraces with their carved chimneys and lantern tower
03The restored formal French gardens
04The royal apartments and the hunting collections
05Wildlife watching in the walled forest park, including the autumn deer rut

History & culture

The story of Château de Chambord

Francis I ordered the château in 1519 as a symbol of royal power and a base for hunting, though he stayed only a few weeks at a time. The design draws on Italian Renaissance ideas, and the double-helix staircase is believed to have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, who spent his last years in the Loire Valley under the king's patronage. Work was finally completed under Louis XIV, who added stables and canalised part of the Cosson; Molière's Le Bourgeois gentilhomme was first performed here in 1670. Louis XV later gave the estate to Marshal Maurice de Saxe as a reward for his victory at Fontenoy in 1745.

In 1821 a national subscription gave Chambord to the infant Duke of Bordeaux, who took the title Count of Chambord, restored the château and opened it to visitors before his death in 1883. The château was listed as a historic monument in 1840, the estate was placed under state administration in 1915 and bought by the state in 1930. UNESCO inscribed the château and estate in 1981, and they are now part of the wider Loire Valley World Heritage Site.

Local life & traditions

Chambord lies in the Sologne, a region of forests, ponds and hunting estates. Local tables feature game, river fish, goat's cheeses such as Sainte-Maure and Selles-sur-Cher, and wines from the nearby Cheverny and Touraine appellations. The small village beside the château has a few hotels, restaurants and shops.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

A visit to the château usually takes two to three hours, using a printed plan or a tablet guide to explore the apartments, the staircase and the roof. Outside, visitors walk or cycle in the parts of the park open to the public and in autumn listen for the red deer rut. The estate also hosts equestrian shows, concerts and seasonal events.

When to go

Late spring brings green parkland and long opening hours, while September and October bring autumn colour and the red deer rut, best heard at dusk. Summer is the busiest season. Winter visits are quieter but the château closes earlier, and is shut on some winter Mondays.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours (2026): 9:00–18:00 from 28 March to 1 November and from 19 December 2026 to 2 January 2027; 9:00–17:00 from 2 November to 18 December. Closed 1 January and 25 December; the park is open every day. Source: chambord.org ↗
Admission (valid to 31 December 2026): €21 for EEA nationals and residents and €31 for visitors from outside the EEA; reduced €18.50 / €28.50. Free for EU citizens under 26, under-18s, and a disabled visitor with one companion. Source: chambord.org ↗
Getting there: About 25 minutes from Blois. Rémi bus line 2 runs from Blois station via Chambord; a single ticket costs €3.30. Source: chambord.org ↗
Parking: Car park P0, about 600 m from the château: €8 per day for cars and motorcycles under 2.10 m. Source: chambord.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Climb to the roof terraces for close views of the chimneys and towers.
Allow extra time for the park; hiring a bike is a good way to cover more ground.
Visit at dusk in September or October to hear the red deer rut in the forest.
Visitors from outside the EEA pay a higher ticket price, so budget accordingly.
Check the opening hours before visiting in winter, when some Mondays are closed.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Château de Chambord: food, markets & places to stay

The royal château of Blois and the smaller Château de Cheverny are within half an hour's drive, and Chaumont-sur-Loire is known for its garden festival. Amboise, with its château and Leonardo da Vinci's last home at Clos Lucé, lies further west, and Chenonceau is around an hour away.