A monument to Francois I’s ego, this 440-room, 84-staircase, 365-fireplace hunting lodge is the biggest château in the Loire. Work commenced in 1519 to an Italianate design and continued despite various financial vicissitudes (including Francois’ ransomed sons being left in the hands of the Spanish) until the king transferred his attentions to Fontainebleau. Later, Henri II found time to build a chapel and the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV entertained with performances of Molière’s plays.

With so many rooms to account for, furnishings are spread pretty thinly around Chambord, though the stonework is liberally decorated with salamanders, Francois’ personal trademark and a symbol of longevity. The double spiral staircase (possibly from an idea by Leonardo da Vinci) is stunning, and the roof-top promenade, a dream landscape of chimneys, turrets, dormer windows and pinnacles, overlooks a vast domain on the edge of the Sologne. Deer and wild boar still roam the woodlands.