Chambord

Chambord, château, park, and village (1993 est. pop. 200), all owned by the state, in Loir-et-Cher dept., N central France. The huge Renaissance château, built by Francis I and set in an immense park and forest (c.13,600 acres/5,500 hectares), was used chiefly by Louis XIV and by Stanislaus I of Poland. Louis XV gave Chambord to Maurice de Saxe, who died there in 1750. Napoleon I later presented it to Marshal Berthier, and in 1821 it went by national subscription to the duke of Bordeaux, who took the title count of Chambord. Repurchased by the state in 1932, Chambord is now open to the public.