Commissioned by King Francis I and imagined by the great Leonardo da Vinci, the Chateau de Chambord is the largest and most majestic castle of the Loire. Its construction started in 1519 and it became one of the most impressive architectural features of the French Renaissance. The castle was meant to serve as the king’s hunting lodge, where he would stay for several weeks during each visit, and hence was not designed to serve as a permanent residence.
Salamanders on the ceiling
At Chambord, the salamander, a small amphibian, as comfortable in the water as on land, is represented more than 300 times on ceilings and walls. The small creature was the emblem of Francis I with a crown and the motto “I eat the good fire, I put out the bad”. The motto refers to the popular belief had it that a salamander has the power to resist flames.
Leonardo Da Vinci Designed a Revolutionary Staircase
The ingenious spiral open staircase, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, joins various levels via two sets of steps set in a huge lantern-like case. You can ascend on one side without meeting or making eye contact with those who are descending on the other side – now that’s entertainment.
It is known that in 1516, Leonardo da Vinci entered into the service of Francis and settled in the Château du Clos Lucé, another castle in the Loire Valley. The great polymath would live there until he died in 1519. With such a brilliant mind living in the vicinity, it is not too difficult to imagine that this ingenious staircase was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Some have even suggested that Leonardo da Vinci was responsible for the castle’s original design as well. At the very least, there is some agreement that Leonardo da Vinci influenced the castle’s double helix staircase design.
Here is the plan of the staircases:
