Chateau de Chambord is the largest Chateau in the Loire valley. The Chateau was built as a hunting lodge for King François I in the 16th Century and the sprawling wooded park surrounding the Chateau provided the game reserves.
The Chateau is huge and it has over four hundred rooms. It is a pity that most of the rooms are sparsely furnished. The double helix open staircase is the centerpiece of the Chateau and provide access to the upper floors in the Chateau. From the top of the Chateau, we could appreciate the majestic size of the entire estate.
Chateau de Cheverny is a Chateau where the owners actually lived in and put in much effort in providing a cozy and warm feel to the Chateau. The apartments are well decorated and showcase the French lifestyle of the elite in the past centuries.
Chateau de Cheverny is associated with the comic character Tintin as the creator, Hergé used the Chateau as an inspiration to design the fictional Marlinspike Hall. There is an interactive exhibition where visitors can experience the adventures of Tintin. It was fun going through the different rooms which are setup with realistic sights, sounds and surprises.
The Chateau has a kernel which is home to more than a hundred hunting dogs. It is a interesting sight to behold during the feeding times.
Both Chateau are not near any train station and it is inconvenient to reach for visitors who do not drive. Fortunately, there is a Chateau shuttle service starting from Blois and goes to Chambord, Cheverny and Beauregard. This provided a convenient and affordable option to get to the Chateaus in the area. However the service is only available during the peak season.
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