Chambord, a mythical castle that we wanted the princess to discover. After Chenonceau, Blois and Versailles, Chambord was an obvious destination during our tour of the “French châteaux”. Even though she was still too young to be interested in the history of the castle, she loved the staircase and the chimneys.
Having lived very close to the Château of Chambord while I was a teenager, I admit that I often walked past it without any real emotion. I didn’t feel like spending some time there. But this family visit allowed me, in a way, to feel like entering this building again. A magnificent historical landmark, that was so dear to the heart of François I of France, and which is clearly worth taking the time to visit and appreciate it at its true value.




Yes, it’s true, the Château de Chambord seems empty as it is pretty huge, with so many rooms and not enough furniture. However, our visit mainly focused on the beautiful double spiral staircase, which is a lot of fun for parents and kids alike, as well as the chimneys, which can be admired from the panoramic terrace.
Good to know

A must do
Climbing on one side of the stairs to see each other without ever being able to touch each other! Your kids will love it!
The princess loved
The staircase, of course, but also the terrace on the roof which allows you to see everything from above. She also really enjoyed walking under the sun in the very large park surrounding the Château of Chambord.
The ups for kids

Your kids are over 8 years old
Visiting the Château de Chambord will probably be very interesting for them. We advise you to take a Histopad. You will be able to discover nine rooms in 3D and virtual reality. The Histopad includes:
- Interactive maps;
- A tour guide of 24 rooms of the castle;
- Over an hour of audio commentary on the history and architecture of the castle.
But the true bonus is that it also contains a fun and interactive treasure hunt.
Your kids are less than 8 years old
They will probably love the treasure hunt on the Histopad. Let them walk freely in the castle, they may create their own stories. Once at the top, show them the beautiful chimneys as well as the great view from the terrace.
Chambord also offers an 18-page puzzle book to play with Cassandre the salamander (intended for children aged 7 to 12). The booklets are to be collected at the reception and / or at the castle ticket office.
If you are spending the day on the Domaine de Chambord, why not hire a small electric boat for 30 minutes to 1 hour?
Slideshow
Information
Rates
The car park located 600 meters from the castle is 6 euros per day.
Entrance to the castle: 14.50 euros full price (Château de Chambord and gardens) and 12 euros reduced rate. Free under 18.
The Histopad costs 6.50 euros in addition to the entrance to the castle.
Boat rental: 16 euros for 30 minutes and 30 euros per hour.
Details
Château de Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France
Website: https://www.chambord.org/en
Open every day of the year except January 1, November 30 and December 25. Closed at 5 p.m. except from March 28 to October 25, at 6 p.m.