A Loire Valley Half Day Trip from Tours to Chambord Castle

Meet your English speaking local guide, expert in Loire Valley Chateaux

Today, we will come and pick you up in front of the Tourism Office in Tours. Meet your English speaking driver / guide who is an expert in the local history, especially the Loire Valley and all its famous castles. Once you have met your guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, premium A/C vehicle and begin to make your way to the Loire Valley Chateau Route.

Guided Tour of Chambord Castle

Once you have met your guide and boarded your small group vehicle, make your way to the Château de Chambord that will be your first Loire Valley castle visit of the day. It is considered as one of the most beautiful Chateaux of the Loire Valley. After a short drive of about 1 hour, reach the stunning Château de Chambord. Listed since 1981 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Chambord is without a doubt one of the most fascinating Loire Valley Castle to visit.

Located in the heart of the Sologne region of France, Chateau de Chambord was the desire of King Francis 1 (François 1er) who ordered the construction in the early 16th century. Built as a hunting lodge, the castle was not designed to be a permanent residence for the King who only stayed within the castle a few weeks every year. The architecture of the Château is a good example of the Italian Renaissance style that was prized at the time and Château de Chambord was in fact built to impress foreign visitors and ambassadors and demonstrate the power of the young king of France.

The Castle is laid out around a central keep that includes for massive bastion towers at each corner. All in all, Chambord is home to more than 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. The plan of the castle has for central axis the famous double helix staircase that was presumably inspired by the work of the great genius Leonardo da Vinci. The two helices ascend the three floors without ever meeting, illuminated from above by a sort of light house at the highest point of the chateau. Another highlight of the visit is the ornate roof that makes the Chateau so recognizable. When you reach the top level of the Chateau, you can walk between the towers and admire the enormous attention to detail in the masonry work.

King Francis 1 never actually saw the castle finished and it wasn't until the reign of the King Louis XIV (the Sun King) that the building was actually completed. The shear size of Château de Chambord makes it a difficult place to maintain and after being owned by different persons close to royalty, it is finally preempted by the French State who becomes the sole owner since 1930.

Upon arrival, follow your tour guide for a tour of the Castle. The tour will last around 1.5 hours and your guide will lead you through the main rooms, will show you the famous double spiral staircase and you take you to the top of the Castle to the terraces where you will have a great view of the surrounding area.

After the visit, you will have some free time to discover the Castle of Chambord on your own.