Description: A first sighting of Chambord will truly take your breath away due simply to the scale of the place – it is awesome! which isn’t surprising given that there are well over 400 rooms in the château alone, only a fraction of which can be visited. (80 rooms) This is not a sumptuously decorated chateau like others of the region and in fact many of the rooms you can visit are empty of furniture, but it is fun to walk around and get a feel for what it must have been like to live in such a vast place. The grand staircase is great fun, especially for children, as it was designed as a double spiral so that people going up and down need not pass each other. Within the grounds of the chateau it is possible to take rides around the park and for an extra charge there are equestrian displays in season.

Location: On D112, 18km E of Blois

General Info: Open all year except Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25. Children free, charge for adults.

Website: http://www.chambord.org

 

Here’s more information to make the most of your visit to the Loire Valley: