Chambord Castle: a visitor's guide

Located some 9 miles (14 kilometers) from Blois in the Loir-et-Cher region, Chambord was built at the request of King François I in 1519, in the heart of the largest forest park in Europe. It was a titanic undertaking, requiring 1,800 workers to raise the 450 rooms of this incredible castle, an architectural masterpiece that has come to embody the French Renaissance.

Leonardo da Vinci took part in the elaboration of this masterpiece and is credited with the double-revolution staircase, a design that can be used without those climbing it ever crossing paths. Two spirals intertwine, giving outside observers the impression of a single structure, yet two people can ascend at the same pace and only glimpse one another through the slits carved into the inner core. It remains the castle's most striking feature.

While the castle's sheer size, its façade, and its estate are enough to impress, it rewards a slower visit. To make the most of your day, it is worth knowing the practical details in advance, from how to get there to the layout of the keep, so that nothing of this jewel of the Renaissance is missed.