Paris1972-Versailles2003

And we came back to mighty beautiful Chambord ! It has been said that the stretch of land on both sides of the Loire river passing by several famous towns for its castles was referred to as the valley of the kings. Well Chambord is the king of the valley! Chambord is a small village with a huge castle and even bigger forest in dept Loir-et- Cher,no 41 of the Centre-Val de Loire region of my belle France. As usual , I have written plenty but never enough when you consider the magnificent of Chambord. Therefore, here is my take on the terrasses of Chambord !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The village of Chambord is famous for its castle and its fully enclosed park, a national hunting reserve where presidential hunts once took place. The village and the entire territory are the property of the French State, administered in the form of a public industrial and commercial establishment called the Domaine national de Chambord. The latest was 35 min 31 km from our hotel in Meung sur Loire to Chambord follow D2 and D2152 towards Av. de Chambord/D925 to Beaugency, At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Av. d’Orléans/D2152, Follow D925 towards D951 to Saint-Laurent-Nouan turn left onto Av. de Chambord/D925 (signs towards Lailly en Val/La Ferté St A./St Laurent des Eaux) Continue to follow D925 turn left onto Pont de Beaugency/D925 turn right onto D925 (signs towards La Ferté St Cyr/Chambord) at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto D951 , Follow D112B and D112 towards Place Saint-Louis to Chambord.

Arriving at the terraces is another source of wonder. In addition to the 360° view they offer of the surrounding area and Chambord Park, they give the feeling of being in the heart of a celestial village. The roofs of the pavilions are studded with stair turrets, chimney stacks, and dormer windows with lush decoration. This exuberance of the summits contrasts with the sobriety of the facades and adds a final flourish to the imposing mass of the keep. In the center, extending the double spiral staircase, rises the lantern tower, the highest point of the château at 56 meters, whose summit is adorned with the symbol of the kings of France, the fleur-de-lis. The visit ends with the terraces at the top of the castle which offer a panoramic view of the gardens and the beautiful roof.

The Château de Chambord terraces are a legacy of the Italian Renaissance. These spaces, which serve as a place for strolling and offer a unique view of the surrounding countryside, The terraces are framed by turrets and dormer windows adorned with tufa and slate marquetry. The towers, turrets, pinnacles, chimneys, and dormer windows are adorned with slate medallions, diamonds, squares, semicircles, and triangles, reminiscent of the black marble inlays of the Chartreuse de Pavie, where Francis I was imprisoned. The creation of this terrace involved an original construction device. The slabs are not jointed, allowing rainwater to pass through, which falls on a flat tile roof resting on a mesh of stone walls supported by the vaults of the rooms on the top floor. Thus, the support function of the slabs is very clearly distinct from the waterproofing function, ensured by the roof hidden in the masonry. From there, the water flows towards a gutter built all around on the cornice. This solution, unprecedented in France, could date from the years 1537-38.

The official Domaine National of Chambord on the castle:  https://www.chambord.org/en/discovering/the-castle-visit/

The local Blois-Chambord tourist office on the castle: https://www.bloischambord.co.uk/discover-the-destination/the-loire-valley-castles/chateau-de-chambord/

The Loire Valley Centre Val de Loire region tourist office on the domaine de Chambord : https://www.loirevalley-france.co.uk/discover/loire-chateaux/national-domain-chambord/

There you go folks, I say the king of the valley of the kings, Chambord, undescribable. A must to visit while in France. We had come back, and will again. We were there even during Christmas magical, and concerts awesome. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the terrasses of Chambord !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!