The gardens of Chambord: history and restoration

Although Versailles remains Louis XIV's most famous achievement, the monarch also took a keen interest in Chambord and commissioned several projects to improve both the château and its surroundings. During his reign, Jules Hardouin-Mansart worked on plans for formal gardens designed to showcase the château's grand façade.

Chambord is surrounded by a moat fed by the waters of the River Cosson. Landscaping work on the estate also helped to better manage water in what was then a largely marshy environment. The French formal gardens were gradually developed during the 18th century.

Following the French Revolution, Chambord's gardens gradually ceased to be maintained and lost their formal layout.

In 1821, the estate was purchased through a national subscription and presented to Henri d'Artois, Duke of Bordeaux, who later took the title of Count of Chambord. After his death in 1883, the estate passed to his heirs before being acquired by the French State in 1930.

Over time, the historic French formal gardens had almost entirely disappeared. Following extensive historical research, they were recreated at the foot of the château and opened to the public in 2017, restoring an important part of Chambord's historic landscape.