Welcome to Chateau de Chambord! This has got to be the most beautiful castle I have ever seen!
The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord is in the Loire river valley and the whole area pretty much is a UNESCO World Heritage site (there are tons of chateau and palaces in the area!). It is the largest castle in the Loire Valley, but was built to serve only as a hunting lodge for King François I (who is the French king that brougth Leonardo da Vinci to France).
There's Ellen and Lisa walking up to where I was - grand view, no?
This double-helix staircase is one of the things that Chambord is famous for - there are two staircases that twist around. Some think da Vinci designed it (still not proven to this day!)
This is Francois I's crazy/dangerous fire-breathing salamander! That's right, a salamander...kind of 'squooshee' if you ask me, as opposed to something 'strong and powerful', but oh well. The castle is full of salamanders and F's for 'Francois'...
This is the central spire that gives light to the double-helix staircase....
And just a view of the neighboring church from the roof...
This was the royal bed chamber area - the spiral staircase was so that people could come see Francois without walking through his private gallery.
This other side is exactly the same thing, except instead of the royal apartments, its the chapel.
Just a view of the roof - the blue stone is slate and I just think it looks great with the white (I think they said sandstone or maybe limestone)...a very 'sharp' look.
And the moat....
This coach was made for Henri V's coronation. His father and brother were forced to abdicate and Henri lived most of his life in in exile in Austria. In 1870 he was offered the French crown but refused to become king without the white fleur-de-lis royal house of Bourbon flag (they wanted him to accept the French tri-colour). And so he remained in exile in Austria until he died in 1883.
Au revoir Chambord! You beaute of a beauty, you!
