The Chateau of Chambord is one of the prettiest Renaissance buildings in the Valle de la Loire (Loire Valley). The only purpose of the Chateau de Chambord was to be used as a retreat for the French kings, especially Louis XIV. The properties of the castle were a great location for hunting fox, wolves and deer during Spring and Fall.

The construction of the castle started in 1519 under the reign of Francois 1er (Francis the First) and was completed in 1547. Florentine artist Leonardo di Vinci paid a short visit to the building during its construction and added a few embellishments to it like the famous double spiral staircase.

The spiral staircase derives from a medieval concept. It goes far beyond it in its unique division into two separate flights with numerous openings on the arms of the corridors. A tribute to the former medieval French tradition is to be found in the presence of powerful cylindrical towers at the corners of the keep. The top of the stairs leads to the large terraces of the castle. This double staircase was built in order to be able to have 2 full troops of soldiers reaching down in a matter of a few minutes in case of a surprise attack.

After the death of Francois 1er in 1574, the castle was practically unused for about fifty years. This castle was too big to warm it up and was called 'le chateau des courants d'air' (the Drafty castle)

After having passed through many hands, the majority of the furniture of the castle was stolen during the revolution and it risked being demolished.

After the revolution, it was used as a jail then as barracks for the army.

In 1947, the French government began restorations which continued for 30 years.