We arrived mid-morning at Val de Blois and booked 2 nights at the campsite. We were able to buy our tickets for the Chateau at the campsite, saving us from queueing in the morning. I liked this site, right on the Loire, we were able to enjoy a leisurely walk after lunch before heading back to Chaumont for our balloon flight.

I say flight, more accurately, due to the lack of wind, it was a balloon hover above Chaumont and the Loire. However, it was fun watching the balloons being inflated and floating up into the sky to enjoy the view along the Loire, sparkling in the late afternoon sun. A glass of champagne on landing (not for me as designated driver) and we were soon back at the campsite for dinner, ready to visit Chambord next day.

It was only a short drive to Chambord through a village till you drive down a tree-lined avenue with the Chateau at the end. What a sight! We truly had left the best till last. We were totally fascinated by the double spiral staircase and couldn’t resist going up separate flights of stairs, seeing each other through the viewing windows. It’s said that the staircase is undoubtedly inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s designs. The layout of the Chateau and the keep was designed to create a sense of equality. Each of the four towers of the keep accessed the central hall and the staircase on the ground, first and second floors.

When you go up to the terraces you get a panoramic view across the gardens from all four sides of the Chateau. There are many richly decorated towers, chimneys and turrets and it feels like you’re in a small celestial city complete with pavilions and streets. I loved it.

We nearly missed a permanent exhibition, accessed from one of the terraces. It tells how in 1939 the French government, forseeing that war was imminent, decided to empty the Louvre and Versaille of it’s treasures and remove them to Chambord. There are films showing what happened and how many artworks were then removed to other Chateaux and castles for safe keeping. Notably, the Mona Lisa did not stay in Chambord for the duration of the war but was moved around before being returned to the Louvre. Despite the Germans visiting the Chateau and hunting for the Mona Lisa it was not found by them.

Another glorious day and I was sad that we would be leaving the Loire valley to head up to Chartres the next day.