Castle of the Loire Valley: CHAMBORD
From 1518, François 1st who used to enjoy hunting in the abounding in game forest of Boulogne, ordered to raze the small castle of the Counts of Blois and replaced it with a sumptuous structure which was soon to be called Chambord. The Chambord’s design is attributed to Leonard de Vinci and inspired by the feudal movement. Standing as a Renaissance marvel, Chambord offers 440 rooms, 365 chimneys, 13 main stairs, 70 backstairs and it no longer inspires any warlike memories. Chambord is François 1st’s personal work. François 2nd, Charles 9th, Louis 13th, Louis 14th, and Molière stayed in it. After having been offered to the Marechal of Saxe and then acquired by the Counts of Chambord, Chambord has become the property of the French state since 1932.
Castle of the Loire Valley: VILLESAVIN
Built on the site of an ancient roman villa,Villesavin “Villa Savini” was erected between 1527 and 1537 by Jean le Breton, superintendent of the Chambord’s building work. Villesavin is a Renaissance castle and however tends towards a certain classicism. The simplicity of its façade is dazzlingly graceful and harmonious.
Castle of the Loire Valley: BEAUREGARD
The well-named Beauregard has reputed roots such as Jean du Thiers, secretary of state of Henry 2nd who was himself the constructor and first Lord of Beauregard. The castle shelters the famous Galerie des Illustres which displays the painting portrays of 320 great figures of the court and high-ranking foreign characters gathered around the two portrays of the King and the Queen. This long room has kept its beautiful old Delft tiles and its ceiling painted with lapis-lazuli powder. Splendid !
Castle of the Loire Valley: CHAUMONT SUR LOIRE
In 1560, Catherine de Medicis, Henri 2nd’s widow, only acquired the castle in order to take revenge on Diane de Poitiers who used to be the late King’s favorite. She compelled this latter to let her have Chenonceau in exchange of Chaumont. Chaumont sur Loire is again inspired by the feudal movement and overlooks its village by the river Loire. The international festival of the gardens which is organized in the park is a unique and a esthetically pleasing place where creativity in the art of creating gardens is freely expressed. Each year, a new theme is proposed to about thirty international landscape gardeners previously selected by examination. They vie with each other in imagination and talent to lay out the plot of land that they were each attributed.
Castle of the Loire Valley: CHEVERNY
The grounds of the castle were bought by Henri Hurault, count of Cheverny, Military treasurer of king Louis XI. The current owner, marquis de Vibraye, is the downward one from him. It is the son of the first owner, Philippe Hurault, who builds the castle between 1624 and 1630. Cheverny is a remarkable example of classicism of XVIIè century. Decoration was completed by the girl of Henri Hurault and Marguerite, the Marchioness of Montglas, about 1650, with the assistance of the painter Jean Mosnier (1600-1656), originating in Blois.The family Hurault de Vibraye always lives the castle of Cheverny which became one of the Loire château more visited and famous for her splendid interiors, her collection of tapestry and objets d’art, her furniture and her decoration of the XVIIe.