Chambord book by Monique Chatenet

This book introduces you to Chambord and invites you to discover a monument that occupies a special place among the castles of the Renaissance. Initially desired by Francis I to house his hunting trips, the building quickly became an immense residence, but also an avant-garde creation of astonishing intelligence. The king had decided to dazzle the world with a masterpiece that would bring his image of an enlightened monarch to the firmament and give his kingdom the artistic prestige it still lacked. Inspired by both the castle of Vincennes and Saint Peter's in Rome, it is different from all contemporary castles.

Thanks to the author's work, the reader will better appreciate the king's part, but also that of Leonardo da Vinci, both in the design and in the realisation. The work unfolds the centuries and evokes the distinguished guests or owners of the castle such as the King of Poland, Maurice of Saxony or the Count of Chambord.

After obtaining a doctorate under the supervision of André Chastel, Monique Châtenet, an art historian, is Chief Curator of Heritage (CNRS Paris). She has become one of the greatest specialists in French Renaissance architecture. She is the author of numerous books and scientific articles.