Château de Chambord
Chambord is the largest château of the Loire: 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 77 staircases, begun in 1519 as a hunting palace for François I and never truly finished or lived in. The double-helix staircase at its heart, two spirals that never meet, follows a design tradition long linked to Leonardo da Vinci, who died at Amboise the year construction began.
The short version
- Chambord is the largest château of the Loire: 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 77 staircases, begun in 1519 for François I.
- Our Loire Valley Day Tour visits Chambord after lunch at Château de Villesavin, with Chenonceau in the morning and the TGV from Paris at both ends of the day.
- Admission is €21, or €31 for visitors from outside the EEA, valid through December 31, 2026. EU citizens under 26 enter free.
- The château opens 9:00 to 18:00 from March 28 to November 1 and 9:00 to 17:00 in winter, closed January 1, December 25 and some low-season Mondays.
- There is no station. Blois, 16 km away, is the nearest, and the walled park of 5,440 hectares is open every day.
The Estate
The château stands inside a 5,440-hectare walled park, the largest enclosed forest park in Europe, with a wall 32 kilometers around. Wild boar and red deer live in the reserve, observation towers stand along the paths, and bikes and boats rent by the hour at the château. The rooftop terraces, a village of lanterns, chimneys, and turrets, are the other half of the visit.
Visiting in 2026
Chambord introduced an experimental pricing structure on January 14, 2026: the reference ticket is 31€, with a 21€ rate for nationals and residents of the European Economic Area, valid through December 31, 2026. Hours run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in high season (late March to late October) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. otherwise, closed January 1 and December 25 plus listed low-season Mondays; check chambord.org for the current calendar and reduced categories. Allow two to three hours, more with the park.
Chambord and Chenonceau anchor the LinkParis.com Loire Valley day tour from Paris, with admissions and lunch at a private château included; our top ten castles page ranks the rest.
Planning the day
Chambord is a half-day on its own: two hours inside and on the roof, an hour more for the gardens and a walk or bike ride into the park. Pair it with Cheverny, 20 minutes south, for furnished rooms after the empty royal ones, or with Blois, 16 km west, if you are traveling by train and need a station at the end of the day.
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the formal gardens close 30 minutes before the château. From November 28 the château is decorated for Christmas, and the winter hours of 9:00 to 17:00 still leave time for the full visit.
Three of our trips include Chambord with admission paid: the Loire Valley Day Tour and the Wine and Castle Tour both reach it after lunch, and the 2-Night Loire tour visits on its first day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Chambord cost in 2026?
Under the experimental 2026 pricing that began January 14, the reference ticket is 31€, with a 21€ rate for EEA nationals and residents, valid through December 31, 2026. Check chambord.org for reduced and free categories.
Did Leonardo da Vinci design Chambord?
No document proves it, but the double-helix staircase follows ideas Leonardo sketched, and he lived at Amboise, 45 minutes away, until his death in 1519, the year construction began. The connection is a strong tradition, not a signature.
How long does Chambord take?
Two to three hours for the château and rooftop terraces; a half day with the gardens and a bike or boat hour in the park. It pairs with Chenonceau as the classic one-day double.
