King François I built a huge Renaissance palace as his country getaway in the Loire Valley. From its humble origins as a hunting lodge, Château de Chambord became a symbol of the French king's power. Today the palace sits within the largest enclosed park in Europe, a forested domain that is home to deer and wild boar. Here's a peek inside the imposing château, from the double-helix staircase thought to have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci to the carvings of the monarch's personal emblem, the salamander.
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| Château de Chambord |
