Once Upon A Time

Akanksha Maker spends an enchanting two days at Château de Chambord.

- Akanksha Maker

A drive of about two and a half hours from Charles de Gaulle Airport, past a scenic countryside with windmills and birds that raced alongside our vehicle, brought us to one of the most distinctive châteaux (castles) in the world. We were in the humble commune of Chambord. As we closed in upon Château de Chambord, the sights and sounds slowly seemed to rewind into another era. Horse carriages rode on pathways lined with manicured greenery and minuscule lakes, strutting towards a magnificent estate. The French renaissance-style palace we had eyed from afar, finally appeared closer. Its architecture overwhelmed us, as we took in the magnitude of what stood in front of us.

Before venturing into the fortress, we checked into our vintage rooms situated in the right tower of the structure. We were told that while it wasn’t common practice to give out accommodation at the château, special requests had been made for our stay. If that wasn’t exciting enough, my room had a mesmerising view of the forest around. I dug out a sweater to keep me warm in the plummeting temperatures and joined the group to explore this enchanting royal house.

You can’t enter a French château and not delve into its history. Before entering the fortress, our tour guide threw some light on its antiquity. It was built as a hunting lodge for King Francis I, and designed by Francis Pombriant who was ordered to construct it in 1519. Since it served as a holiday home to the king, for many decades it remained partially unfurnished. After the death of King Francis I, the royal residence was unoccupied for 80 years. In 1639 King Louis XIII handed over the reins of the château to his brother Gaston d’Orléans, who took up the responsibility of its restoration work — thus saving it from absolute dilapidation. A series of residents and transfers of ownership followed for centuries.