Château de Chambord is the most recognized chateau in the world. It was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I, who only used it for 73 days. The Chateau was never finished & it is virtually empty so not as easy to imagine life within its walls. One of the architectural highlights is the spectacular double helix open staircase that is the centerpiece of the château. The two helices ascend the three floors without ever meeting. There are suggestions that Leonardo da Vinci may have designed the staircase, but this has not been confirmed.
This chateau is less appealing than the fairytale pictures portray, maybe due to the empty stone walls of the interior or no furnishings. Even so it is a very grand castle - the biggest in the Loire Valley with grounds of over 5,000 hectares. Inner Paris would comfortably fit within the walled grounds.