Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
was under way on Chambord, François I (who apparently was addicted to home renova-
tion) added the elaborate Renaissance wing (to your right; early 16th century), centered
on a protruding spiral staircase and slathered with his emblematic salamanders. Gaston
d'Orléans inherited the place in the 1600s and wanted to do away with the messy mis-
matched styles. He demolished a church that stood across from you (the chapel to your
left is all that remains) and replaced it with the clean-lined, Neoclassical structure you see
today. Luckily, that's as far as he got.
Visit the interior counterclockwise, and focus on the Renaissance wing. Begin in the
far-right corner (where you entered the courtyard) and walk under the stone porcupine re-
lief, Louis' symbol, and up the steps into the dazzling
Hall of the Estates-General
(it re-
sembles a church from the outside). This is the oldest surviving part of the château (pred-
ating Louis and François), where the Estates-General met twice to deliberate who would
inherit the throne from Henry III, who had no male heir. (Keep reading to see how Henry
resolved the problem.)
Continue intothesmall
lapidary museum
(downthestepsbythewoodenstaircase),
with an engaging display of statues and architectural fragments from the original château
(love the gargoyles).
