Chateau des Chambord

About

King Francis I began construction on his hunting lodge in 1519, and didn’t finish until 1547. Once the château was inhabitable, Francis hosted his old arch-rival, Emperor Charles V, to flaunt his enormous symbol of wealth and power. While the castle-like estate looks lavish, for Francis, it was genuinely a rural escape. The chateau’s design made heating impractical, and its isolated location meant food had to be brought with the group, or hunted. Because of this, it was left unfurnished, and Francis and his entourage of 2,000 would bring furniture, wall coverings, and eating implements with them for each trip. Today, visitors can roam the 13,000 acre park, or the carefully manicured gardens, to appreciate the distinctive facade from every angle. Inside, a guided tour, or augmented reality iPad app, guides visitors through the ornately decorated rooms, teaching the chateau’s rich history amongst works of priceless art.