Chambord - A French Renaissance Chateau
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Chambord is a French Renaissance chateau started by Francis I, who reigned from 1515 to 1547, primarily as a hunting lodge. The architecture blends traditional castle elements with Renaissance features, notably the double helix spiral staircase and extensive sculpted roofs, while the surrounding 5440 hectares of parkland supports diverse wildlife. The chateau's design includes modular living quarters and various service areas, reflecting its historical dual purpose of residence and hunting retreat.
Chambord - A French Renaissance Chateau
- 1. Chambord A French Renaissance Chateau All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use. First created 7 Jan 2013. Version 1.0 - 12 Jan 2013. Jerry Tse. London .
- 2. Chronology Chambord is a Renaissance palace. It is an earlier generation of royal chateau, in France.
- 3. History Francis I came to the French throne in 1515 and reigned until 1547. Francis I had two passions, architecture and hunting. The chateau was started by him and construction stopped soon after his death.
- 4. Plan The plan follows a traditional castle layouts with a keep (Donjon) , castle wall and a moat. The plan is similar to the Chateau de Vincennes Paris, built in 1340 – 1410. While it has elements of medieval castle – massive towers, donjon, wall etc., it was not built as a fortification.
- 5. North Facade
- 6. North Facade Note the bridge that spans the moat on the extreme right.
- 7. West side
- 8. South Entrance The normal entrance is from the south through a gate house into a courtyard.
- 9. Courtyard The courtyard is a good place for assembly before a hunt.
- 10. Donjon From the donjon looking into the courtyard.
- 11. Donjon Each level of the donjon is comprised of four modular apartments or areas. Each of the modular areas is treated as a self-contained living quarter.
- 12. Donjon (Keep)
- 13. Donjon (Keep)
- 14. Central Staircase This is the central double helix spiral staircase, which links all the levels together. This is a very French Renaissance feature.
- 15. Central Staircase This ceiling of the central double helix spiral staircase.
- 16. Vaulted Guard Room Between the four modular living areas on each level are the service and guard areas.
- 17. Donjon (Keep) This is a heating stove made in Danzig in the service area.
- 18. Door On panels, on walls, on ceilings, on the roof, on door ways, everywhere you look there are the flame breathing salamander emblem of Francis I.
- 19. Ante-Chamber This is the ante-room to the King’s bedroom. This can be used as a state room on occasions.
- 20. King’s Bedroom This is the King’s Bedroom.
- 21. Queen’s Bedroom This is the Queen’s Bedroom, when we were there the bed was removed.
- 22. 18C Apartment This is the room where the exiled King of Poland, Stanislas Leszczynski once lived.
- 23. Tapestry
- 24. The Roof From above the roof looks like a medieval version of the New York skyline. There are 800 sculpted columns but without symmetry.
- 25. Roof Another version of the flame breathing salamander with crown, the emblem of Francis I.
- 26. Roof The roof of one of the massive round towers of the donjon.
- 27. Roof The central lantern above the double helix spiral staircase.
- 28. Roof The top of the central lantern.
- 29. Roof This one has been restored with its white marble and deep blue stone geometric inlays for decoration.
- 30. Roof An eroded baby angel after exposure to the weather for over 400 years
- 31. Roof A carved ferocious boar.
- 32. Roof The top of the central spiral staircase stamped with emblems of Francis I.
- 33. Roof Column with statues of figurines, lantern on massive tower and column with a niche.
- 34. Roof
- 35. Roof Tall windows, columns and lantern on top of a massive round tower at the corner of the donjon.
- 36. The Wings This is the Chapel wing.
- 37. Chapel A small and plain chapel. It was one of the last additions to the chateau in the 16C.
- 38. King’s Wing The King’s Wing and note the external spiral staircase.
- 39. King’s Wing The external façade of the corridor linking the King’s wing with the donjon.
- 40. King’s Wing A statue of Madame Elisabeth, the sister of Louis XVI.
- 41. King’s Wing Trophies of stag hunts. Many were dated quite recently.
- 42. The Park The chateau was built as a hunting lodge. There are 5440 hectares of surrounding park land, mostly covered with dense woods.
- 43. Wildlife Park A channel was built to retain water for use and for its moat.
- 44. Wildlife Apart from the smaller species like bats, birds and insects, there are larger animals like roe deer, stag, wild boar and wild sheep.
- 45. Courtyard and the Garden The south side of the park and trimmed trees make a good ground for assembly.
- 47. Garden Once the service quarters for the chateau or perhaps even for the hunting dogs or stable for the horses.
- 48. The End All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective Music – Passacagliax by Secret Garden owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use.