Château de Chambord

What to expect

Built by Francis I at the height of his glory after his victory at Marignano, Chambord is one of the most singular creations the Renaissance has left us. The touch of the genius of the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, can be felt here and there throughout the château, making him the very likely inspiration of Francis I.

Chambord is a radically unique work, an emblem of the French Renaissance throughout the world. Designed by Francis I and Leonardo da Vinci, the château remains an enigma that has not yet revealed all its secrets. Immerse yourself in a unique and enchanting atmosphere: from the famous double-helix staircase to the breathtaking view from the panoramic terraces, by way of the furnished apartments, you travel through 500 years of history in just a few hours, on a self-guided visit with the Histopad (a digital tablet offering an immersive visit to the time of Francis I) or accompanied by a passionate guide who brings history back to life. Chambord is also a vast forest park of 5,440 hectares, the size of inner Paris, surrounded by a 32-kilometre wall with many freely accessible paths.

On site, a host of activities is offered throughout the seasons: the new equestrian show by Mario Luraschi, guided tours of the park by all-terrain vehicle, outings by electric cart, rowing boat, on foot or by bike, as well as several places to eat, so you can make the most of this exceptional setting for a day or more.

• Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981
• Less than 2 hours south of Paris
• Open all year round, 7 days a week, except in 2026 on 01/01 and 25/12 and on Mondays in low season outside school holidays (all zones)
• Collections of nearly 4,500 works and objets d'art
• The largest walled forest park in Europe
• An equestrian show by Mario Luraschi

Opening hours

Low season

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

– From January 4 to March 27, 2026 inclusive
(exceptional closures on Mondays: January 5, 12, 19, 26 – February 2 – March 9, 16, 23: château closed)

– From October 26 to December 18, 2026

High season

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

– From March 28 to October 25, 2026

– From December 19, 2026 to January 2, 2027

Last admission to the ticket office 30 minutes before the château closes. The French formal gardens close half an hour before the château.

Château and gardens prices

Full price: €21 for EEA residents / €31 for non-EEA residents (château + gardens)

Free admission:

• Under 18s
• 18-25-year-old EU nationals
• French primary and secondary school teachers (holders of the Pass Éducation stamped for the current year)
• Holders of the Carte Culture issued by the French Ministry of Culture
• Persons with disabilities + 1 companion

Visit of the château and gardens

• Visit the château freely and discover the famous double-helix staircase and more than 4,500 objets d'art in the refurnished apartments.
• A 20-minute film on the history and architecture of Chambord, translated into 4 languages (English, Italian, Spanish, German), is shown continuously in one of the ground-floor rooms.
• The French formal gardens of the Château de Chambord include more than 600 trees, 800 shrubs, 200 rose bushes, 15,250 border plants and 18,874 m² of lawns.

History of the Château de Chambord

Symbol of royal power

The architecture of Chambord is a skilful blend of the French medieval period and the Italian Renaissance. Many features that were very daring at the time are also concentrated at Chambord, such as the symmetry of the buildings, the treatment of openings and circulation, or the position of the double-helix staircase… Although the château is a masterpiece owed to the initiative of Francis I, it was under the reign of Louis XIV that the building was completed. The Sun King saw it as a symbol of royal power and stayed there several times with his court. Great hunting parties were held in its vast forest teeming with game. It was also during his reign, and in this very place, that Molière first performed two successful plays, "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" and "Monsieur de Pourceaugnac".

The Hunt of King Francis

Unlike other châteaux such as Cheverny, the Château de Chambord is only sparsely furnished. And for good reason: it was a temporary residence at a time when the king and his court travelled from place to place, changing residence with the seasons. Let us not forget that the Château de Chambord was originally designed as a hunting lodge to accommodate Francis I and his large court, not as a true residence (the château nevertheless has no fewer than… 430 rooms!). In its rooms you can admire "The Hunt of King Francis", a set of tapestries woven under the reign of Henri IV in the first quarter of the 17th century, even before the creation of the Gobelins Manufactory. This work shows the hunting techniques of the time.

The stag's bell

The Park of Chambord is the largest enclosed forest park in Europe: the estate, with a total area of 5,440 hectares, is surrounded by a 32-kilometre wall. Many plant and animal species thrive there in the wild: red deer, wild boar, roe deer and even Corsican mouflons, not to mention a very rich bird population of more than 150 recorded species. You can discover this nature reserve with a forest guide aboard an all-terrain vehicle. Ponds, meadows, moors… you will discover every facet of this immense estate and, along the paths, you may come across a roe deer or a stag. In the right season, you can also join a group to watch the stags' rutting bell from an observation tower.

Map

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