Loire Valley: The gardens of le Château de Chambord
Restoring the glory at Château de Chambord
Though it is one of the biggest and most beautiful châteaux in the Loire Valley, built in the 16th century for King Francis I, for a long time the historic gardens of the Château de Chambord were in a state of disrepair and in need of renovation.
After the gardens were flooded during heavy rains throughout France in 2016, that need only got more dire. But thanks to a generous donation from U.S. billionaire and lover of French culture, Stephen Schwarzman, the chateau and its gardens have been restored to their full glory, ready to be experienced by the public once again.
Interestingly, the site of this chateau was known to be rather damp, even in 1519 when the builders started laying the foundations. The King had specifically requested a castle that "rose from the waters". Up to 10% of the estate was wetland, with pools, ponds and the river Cosson traversing the domain.
The magnifique formal gardens of the Château de Chambord
From Molière to the Mona Lisa: Chambord's famous visitors
The 2016 flooding spared the chateau itself (much to the relief of the French tourist board, no doubt!).
This architectural wonder became part of the first list of France's historical monuments back in 1840 and has featured on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list since 1981.
Its estate and grounds - which we can cycle through! - include the Place Saint-Louis, the royal dwelling, 18th century kitchens, Ormetrou vineyards, permaculture vegetable gardens, the Maréchal de Saxe’s stables, and of course the formal gardens and Grand Promenade.
The castle was designed around a central axis: the famous double revolution staircase, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci: an ascending spiral that leads from the first floor to the third floor to a 'lighthouse' tower.
The King's bedroom, Château de Chambord (credit: Dorian Mongel)
France's famous playwright Molière presented his comedy, 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme' for the first time at Chambord on 14 October 1670, with none other than King Louis XIV in the audience. Molière was poking fun at the vain aristocracy in his hit play - was he forewarning his attendees about the French Revolution?! Because post-1789, the chateau's furnishings were stripped and sold off, and the building was abandoned...
Yet in 1821, the dilapidated property was signed over to the Duke of Bordeaux, grandson of King Charles X, who undertook a significant renovation and opened the castle to the public.
The French state took over the ownership in 1930 and just nine years later, the chateau received a shipment of artworks which had been evacuated from Paris. Iconic works such as Delacroix’s Liberty Guiding the People and The Lady with a Unicorn and even Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, were hidden safely in Chambord during WWII. How fitting that the Mona Lisa was probably carried up Chambord's famous da Vinci inspired staircase!
- For more pictures of the gardens of Chambord, video of the restoration work, and the history of the château, you can visit Chambord's website here.
Cycle tour of the Château de Chambord
If the promise of Chambord's formal gardens, architectural delights and rich history have piqued your interest, you can visit the gardens and ride through the vast hunting park around it on one of our Loire Valley cycling tours, now open for bookings.
Highlights of our Loire Valley tour include:
- Magnificent Château de Chambord and cycling tour in its forests
- The beauty of the Château de Chenonceau spanning the River Cher
- Idyllic riverside cycling along the Indre
- Gourmet dining in elegant Amboise
The Loire Valley makes a fabulous destination for gentle bike tours, with its flat terrain and stunning scenery.
- Collections are from Saint-Pierre-des-Corps TGV station and Tours Centre rail station
- Departures are from Blois rail station (connections to Paris Austerlitz and Tours)