Château de Chambord · A Video Postcard

“The Egyptians have the pyramids. The French have this.” That was the impression from a group of tourists I overheard while standing on the rooftop of the Château de Chambord, the largest of its kind in the Loire Valley.

It brought me back to my childhood, reminding me of the castles from Final Fantasy III.

While looking out from its immense grounds I had thoughts like, does Dominoes deliver here? What if I forgot to pick up some detergent at the store? Would I walk down the 200+ step double-helix staircase for a midnight snack?

Clearly, I didn’t understand the concept of being a King.

It was designed to be a hunting lodge for King Francis I, who spent a grand total of about seven weeks there. The ostentatious lodge wasn’t meant for long-term living. Construction began in the 1500s with Leonardo da Vinci thought to have been a part of its plans, most notably the famed staircase, but nobody knows for sure. The truth of the ground’s creators lost in history for now.

It played a vital role during the onset of World War II, housing the Louvre’s collection during its evacuation. Some pieces like the Raft of Medusa were too large for a truck, so it was covered by a blanket. During its voyage, the canvas hit an electric cable and knocked out power to all of Versailles. A moment of art imitating life. The Winged Victory of Samothrace was the final piece to leave the Louvre for its temporary stay here.

These days, the French government owns and manages it through the Centre des monuments nationaux, welcoming nearly two million people a year. Undoubtedly leaving people with quite the impression, as it did for me.