Editing Château de Chambord (section)

===Royal ownership===
{{Multiple image |direction=vertical |align=right |caption_align=center
  |header=[[André Félibien|Félibien]]'s drawings based on a wooden model
  |image1=Château de Chambord, facade of the keep based on a wooden model, drawn by Félibien - Babelon 1989 p161.jpg
  |caption1=Façade of the keep
  |image2=Château de Chambord, plan of the keep, based on a wooden model, drawn by Félibien - Babelon 1989 p159.jpg
  |caption2=Plan of the keep
}}

Who designed the Château de Chambord is a matter of controversy.<ref>{{harvnb|Tanaka|1992|p=85}}</ref> The original design is attributed, though with several doubts, to [[Domenico da Cortona]], whose wooden model for the design survived long enough to be drawn by [[André Félibien]] in the 17th century.<ref>Félibien 1681, [https://books.google.com/books?id=goYOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA28 pp. 28–29] (Félibien's description of the model).</ref> In the drawings of the model, the main staircase of the keep is shown with two straight, parallel flights of steps separated by a passage and is located in one of the arms of the cross. According to Jean-Guillaume, this Italian design was later replaced with the centrally located spiral staircase, which is similar to that at [[Château de Blois|Blois]], and a design more compatible with the French preference for spectacular grand staircases. However, "at the same time the result was also a triumph of the centralised layout—itself a wholly Italian element."<ref>Guillaume 1996, p. 416.</ref> In 1913 Marcel Reymond suggested<ref>{{harvnb|Reymond|1913}}</ref> that [[Leonardo da Vinci]], a guest of Francis at [[Clos Lucé]] near Amboise, was responsible for the original design, which reflects Leonardo's plans for a château at [[Romorantin-Lanthenay|Romorantin]] for the King's mother, and his interests in central planning and double-spiral staircases; the discussion has not yet concluded,<ref>{{harvnb|Heydenreich|1952}}; {{harvnb|Tanaka|1992}}</ref> although many scholars now agree that Leonardo was at least responsible for the design of the central staircase.<ref>Hanser 2006, p. 47.</ref><ref name="bbc"/>

Archaeological findings by Jean-Sylvain Caillou & Dominic Hofbauer have established that the lack of symmetry of some façades derives from an original design, abandoned shortly after the construction began, and which ground plan was organised around the central staircase following a central gyratory symmetry.<ref>[http://www.chambord-archeo.com Château de Chambord programme archéologique] ''chambord-archeo.com'', accessed 18 February 2019</ref> Such a rotative design has no equivalent in architecture at this period of history, and appears reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci's works on hydraulic turbines or the helicopter. Had it been respected, it is believed that this unique building could have featured the quadruple-spiral open staircase, strangely described by [[John Evelyn]] and [[Andrea Palladio]], although it was never built.

Regardless of who designed the château, on 6 September 1519 Francis de Pontbriand was ordered to begin construction of the Château de Chambord.<ref name="Heydenreich 282">{{harvnb|Heydenreich|1952|p=282}}</ref> The work was interrupted by the [[Italian War of 1521–1526]], and work was slowed by dwindling royal funds<ref name="Tanaka 92-93">{{harvnb|Tanaka|1992|pp=92–93}}</ref> and difficulties in laying the structure's foundations. By 1524, the walls were barely above ground level.<ref name="Heydenreich 282"/> Building resumed in September 1526, at which point 1,800&nbsp;workers were employed in building the château. At the time of the death of King Francis I in 1547, the work had cost 444,070&nbsp;''[[French livre|livre]]s''.<ref name="Tanaka 92-93"/>

[[File:ChateauDeChambord.jpg|thumb|Painting by [[Pierre-Denis Martin (1663–1742)|Pierre-Denis Martin]] of Château de Chambord in 1722]]
The château was built to act as a hunting lodge for King Francis I;<ref name="Yarwood"/> however, the King spent barely seven weeks there in total, that time consisting of short hunting visits. As the château had been constructed with the purpose of short stays, it was not practical to live in on a longer-term basis. The massive rooms, open windows and high ceilings meant heating was impractical. Similarly, as the château was not surrounded by a village or estate, there was no immediate source of food other than game. This meant that all food had to be brought with the group, typically numbering up to 2,000 people at a time.

As a result of all the above, the château was completely unfurnished during this period. All furniture, wall coverings, eating implements and so forth were brought specifically for each hunting trip, a major logistical exercise. It is for this reason that much furniture from the era was built to be disassembled to facilitate transportation. After Francis died of a heart attack in 1547, the château was not used for almost a century.

For more than 80 years after the death of King Francis I, French kings abandoned the château, allowing it to fall into decay. Finally, in 1639 King [[Louis XIII]] gave it to his brother, [[Gaston, Duke of Orléans]], who saved the château from ruin by carrying out much restoration work.

[[File:Loire Cher Chambord3 tango7174.jpg|thumb|Louis XIV's ceremonial bedroom]]

King [[Louis XIV]] had the great keep restored and furnished the royal apartments. The king then added a 1,200-horse stable, enabling him to use the château as a hunting lodge and a place to entertain for a few weeks each year, for example [[Molière]] presented the premiere of his celebrated comedy, ''[[Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme]]''<ref>[https://www.chambord.org/en/history/the-chateau/as-history-unfolds/AS HISTORY UNFOLDS]</ref> here. Nonetheless, Louis XIV abandoned the château in 1685.<ref>{{harvnb|Chirol|Seydoux|1992|p=53}}</ref>

From 1725 to 1733, [[Stanisław Leszczyński]] (Stanislas I), the deposed King of Poland and the father-in-law of King [[Louis XV]], lived at Chambord. In 1745, as a reward for valour, the king gave the château to [[Maurice de Saxe]], [[Marshal of France]], who installed his military regiment there.<ref>{{harvnb|Boucher|1980|p=34}}</ref> Maurice de Saxe died in 1750, and once again the colossal château sat empty for many years.