BLACK DEER SCARF

THE DOUBLE STAIRCASE

"One of the most curious and remarkable things in the house is the staircase, made in such a way that one person can go up and another down without them meeting, although they can see each other.
Memoirs of Mademoiselle de Montpensier, 17th century.

Since the 16th century, it has attracted all eyes upon entering the dungeon and exerted the same fascination on visitors: the double spiral staircase of Chambord is in itself a real monument...

Unlike most staircases, which are built into the masonry or protrude from the facade of the buildings, the double staircase at Chambord is placed in the centre of the entire building, at the junction of the four large rooms forming a Greek cross. Everything is arranged around it.

It consists of a hollow, openwork central core (pierced by windows) around which two flights of spiral steps wind in a row. It benefits from lateral lighting thanks to the large windows that open the cage, and serves the main floors of the keep up to the terraces. From there, it is surmounted by the highest tower of the castle, the lantern tower, which contains a narrow spiral staircase, and bears the fleur-de-lis, symbol of the kings of France, at the top of the building.

The mathematical perfection with which it was ordered, its exceptional central position in the building and the staging it provides are all arguments in favour of Leonardo da Vinci's participation in the Chambord project. The Italian master, who was invited to stay with King Francis I as an engineer, painter and architect, may indeed have suggested the introduction of a staircase with double flights, as he liked to draw in his famous notebooks...