\b0 The castle of Chambord is one of the most beautiful of the French Renaissance. Located in the Loi
re Valley on the fringes of the forests of Sologne, it was originally a meeting place for the hunt used by the Counts of Blois.\b \cf4 \ATXht464 \ATXul1024 Francis I\b0 \ATXul0 \cf0 \ATXht0 then turned it into a sumptuous residence where, a century lat
er, \b \ATXul1024 \cf4 \ATXht466 Louis XIV\b0 \ATXul0 \cf0 \ATXht0 also liked to stay. With its rectangular plan and massive towers that are reflected in the waters of the Cosson, it recalls the castles of the Middle Ages, but its faτades are pierced by
elegant windows to let in the light. The writer \b \ATXul1024 \cf4 \ATXht472 Chateaubriand\b0 \ATXul0 \cf0 \ATXht0 said that its great slate roofs embellished with pinnacle turrets and tall chimneys looked \i ôLike a woman whose hair has been ruffled b
y the wind.ö\i0 The castle is equally remarkable for its terraces and its great internal staircase with a double flight of steps, surmounted by a lantern that rises to a height of 32 meters (105 feet).\par
