North facade © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
The East Facade and flowers © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Mark Dion contemporary art © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Cabinet in trompe l'oeil © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Squalling deer and two hinds © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Chambre aux lauriers roses © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Queen Marie Thérèse bedroom © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Ceremonial room © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Francis 1 bedroom © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Chapel © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Concise storehouse © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Donjon © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Staircase doubles on two floors © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Staircase and vaults © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Forest of fireplaces © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Crowd in front of lantern © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Gallery marion to schuster © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Lantern © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Young wild boars © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Mirador of observation © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Mouflons in Chambord © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
High parts © Domaine national de Chambord
Chateau of Chambord
Public Establishment of the National Estate of Chambord
Domaine national de Chambord, Maison des Réfractaires
41250 Chambord France
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Website:
www.chambord.org
The National Estate of Chambord has been state-owned since 1930 and became an industrial and commercial public establishment in 2005. Under the patronage of the French President, it is under the authority of the following Ministries: Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Culture and Communication.
« I know how to divert rivers, to make water flow where it has never passed before, build underground noiselessly, lay siege to any fortress. I fear comparison with no one whether in painting, mathematics, anatomy, sculpture or hydraulics…”
That’s how I present myself, with great modesty…
Francis I, Towards Royal Absolutism Patron of the Arts and Letters, Francis I is the perfect image of a Renaissance prince. At just twenty years old he succeeded his distant cousin Louis XII to the throne. According to a prophecy made by the hermit Francesco da Paola to his mother Louisa of Savoy, fate had destined him to the role of sovereign. And so, on 1 January 1515, in the most lawful way, the young Francis I, consecrated king of the French, became one of God’s elect.
He won much glory in arms in September 1515 with the famous victory of Marignano against the Swiss who defended their Milanese dominions. This brilliant success was the result of powerful artillery, the presence of the knight Bayard and of Francis I’s actions at the centre of the battlefield. It was a personal victory for the king that impressed the whole of Europe and initiated his glorious reign. Furthermore, he benefited from the expedition to Italy to sign the pact of Bologna with Pope Leo X which allowed the king to nominate bishops and cardinals, in this way strengthening his power over the clergy.
Francis I established the legal collection in the Royal Library with a copy of every printed book and, thanks to the ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts, imposed the use of French rather than Latin for all official acts, thus making French the only language for government.
Finally, in the military sphere, the long rivalry with the emperor Charles V would be a constant obsession in a reign that lasted 32 years; a reign that would affirm itself for its artistic and intellectual patronage, for strengthening French unity and for founding the system of absolute monarchy.
1515 marked the fortunate meeting of a young Renaissance prince with power and the arts. Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, as soon as he was crowned Francis I threw himself into conquering the lands of Italy. Moved at the beginning by the desire to emblazon his new power with a clamorous victory, he discovered, together with his companions in arms, an inexhaustible fount of marvels: old buildings, palaces, villas, scenarios of northern Italy, multi-faceted artists.