Chambord

This is not a chateau but was built as a hunting lodge for Francois the first. He stayed in it for only a few months. Leonardo da Vinci visited this chateau and brought the king a gift, the Mona Lisa. It is famous for its double spiral staircase and turreted roofs.

(Click on each photo to get the full-sized image)

The front of the lodge as seen from the tree lined walkway.

Rear view of the lodge from across the moat.

The front of the lodge as seen from the tree lined walkway.

Excellent view of the lodge as seen from across the moat.

Side view of the lodge and moat.

Opposite side view.
It is pretty clear that the moat served a purely ornamental function.

The central courtyard of the lodge.

A closer view of the spiral staircase as seen from the roof.

An excellent example of Francois the first symbol, the fire breathing salamander.

The famous double spiral staircase. It leads to the roof.

This is the crown of the double spiral staircase on the roof of the lodge.

The top of a corner tower. Note the handrail near the top. Much of the roof area was available for parties and with its many nooks and crannies private meetings.

Note the many chimneys on the roof of this building.

There are more than 100 chimneys in the structure with complex passages from the lower floors to the roof.