Chateau de Chambord, Chambord

This is the best castle I've seen in the Loire valley. It is huge and the architecture is very complex, like its spiraling main staircase. There is a lot to see, and the castle also has some art displays. It's actually a big site with a garden, church, village, etc. The only downside is that the parking lot is €6 (other castles don't make visitors pay parking) but given the size of the site, I suppose it goes toward its preservation. A must see!

Impressive castle set on huge grounds. We found the artwork exhibits the most interesting aspects, plus the double helix staircase at center of building. Very crowded, next time we would try to be there early when they open.

Amazing chateau that has been kept nicely. Parking was close and very easy. Lots of grounds to walk around (or bike). We went to the falcon and horse show and it was great. Our son loved it!

A magnificent palace. A true architectural gem of France. When we visited they had restoration and maintenance on the outside so the building was open for tours but covered in scaffolding but you could still appreciate the true beauty of this mega castle. The history behind the palace it’s construction and the royal family is fascinating. Definitely get an audio guide. They also offer falcon and horse riding show on the grounds. The show is in French and geared towards younger audiences but it was still entertaining for the adults. This is definitely one of the highlights of Loir valley.

Really enjoyed our time here. For those that don't know, you don't have to pay to go in the grounds, and walk around, and you can get access to all the park land/ woodland and cafe/ restaurants. But would recommend going into the chateau.