Escape the Crowds: Chambord Forest Adventure Unveiled – Episode 1

Today I launch a new series dedicated to the rebirth of the nature during the very early spring season.
In this series I invite you to embark on a captivating journey through the serene forests surrounding Chambord Castle, one of the most iconic landmarks of the Loire Valley in France. As we explore the delicate beauty of early spring, with trees adorned in a tapestry of budding leaves and the melodious symphony of chirping birds, each episode of this series offers a unique glimpse into the enchanting essence of nature’s awakening. Discover the timeless allure of Chambord Castle, with its exquisite Renaissance architecture and sprawling grounds steeped in history and legend.
In this inaugural episode, our adventure begins at the parking area, leading us past the majestic Chambord Castle and its tranquil canal. Against the backdrop of the castle’s grandeur, the nascent foliage of the forest creates captivating composite images. As we delve deeper, we uncover secluded spots for observing the vibrant wildlife. Along the way, we stumble upon markers for a hiking trail, igniting our curiosity to explore further. Join us as we embark on this immersive forest exploration, with more discoveries awaiting in the upcoming episodes.
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00:00-01:56 – Intro
01:57-04:45 – restauration area
04:46-08:10 – the north-west façade of the castle, including the roof details
08:11-10:05 – the Saint-Michel Bridge and River Cosson
10:06-16:50 – walking in front of the North-West facade of the Chambord Castle
16:51-18:04 – the start of the stroll in the forest
18:05-23:05 – the area of the first animal observatory
23:06-27:05 – watching the Chambord Castle through the forest
27:06-33:50 – the last alley before entering in the forest (including a vantage point of the castle)
33:51-34:17 – end screens
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Hello dear friends of Provisualstock Today marks the beginning of a series of films with an unique concept: It revolves around the idea of showcasing activities one can engage in while visiting the renowned French castles of the Loire Valley, other than exploring their interiors.

After a while, you’ll find that there are numerous intriguing things and places waiting to be discovered. In the next three videos, including this one, I will explore the magnificent domain forest surrounding Chambord Castle.

This walk took place in February, during the very early spring season, giving the forest a unique and unusual appearance that allows us to discover things that are not visible when the forest is in full vegetation.

We began our walk in the car parking lot, and after passing the ticket office, we arrived at a small square with restaurants that offer the first view of the castle.

In this square, there are some restaurants offering relatively affordable traditional French foods, including, of course, the traditional “crêpes” and “galettes,” along with a good assortment of the famous French wines. As you can see, we had very nice weather despite the time of year, nearing the end of winter.

We are now approaching the renowned Chambord Castle. The castle is quite vast. In another video, I will give you an exterior tour of the entire castle. In this video, we will admire the North-Western facade of the castle from various vantage points. This facade is well-known and is often featured on promotional materials.

One of the most distinctive features of the castle is its elaborate roof, adorned with numerous towers and decorations. This intricate roof is often likened to a city skyline. The castle is situated near the River Cosson, with some of the canals surrounding the castle being part of this river.

We now cross the Saint-Michel Bridge over the River Cosson. Here is a picturesque canal in front of the castle, offering stunning reflections of the monument as we will see.

This green field is a fantastic spot for photographers, as it offers the perfect vantage point to capture magnificent images of the castle and its reflection in the canal of the Cosson River.

The castle’s main architect was the Italian Domenico da Cortona, who was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci. Construction of the castle took place between 1519 and 1547. The castle was built for King Francis I and served primarily as a symbol of wealth. It was never utilized as a hunting lodge or a defensive structure.

During World War II, the castle served as a shelter for significant artworks from the Louvre Museum and other locations. In the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV, known as The Sun King, the initial efforts to organize the surroundings of the castle began.

This marked the beginning of the development of the gardens and the park. Now, as we enter the park, the bare trees and the melodic chirping of the birds create a serene atmosphere, enhancing the experience of our stroll. This sign indicates the proximity of an animal observatory.

In this forest, there are numerous animal observatories where visitors and wildlife photographers can observe the fauna. The emblematic animal of the forest surrounding Chambord Castle is the stag. The best time to observe them is during the mid-September and mid-October, which marks the mating season.

Other animals that can be observed here include wild boar, roe deer, Corsican mouflon, various bird species, bats, newts, dragonflies, and salamanders.

This is an animal observatory. I will climb in, and you will discover the view from there. However, it’s not the season for observing animals at the moment. I may create another video specifically on this subject.

This is a sizable observatory. In the upcoming videos of this series, we will explore more varieties of such observatories. The entire Chambord National Estate spans 5,440 hectares, surrounded by a 32-kilometer wall, making it the largest enclosed park in Europe.

Here are the first trail markers. We notice that there are three routes, but we haven’t yet decided which one to follow. For now, we’ll stick to the common path shared by all three.

The presence of the River Cosson makes the soil here extremely humid, which partially explains the richness of the flora present in this park.

This is the last vantage point of Chambord Castle for now. In the next episode, we will venture deep into the forest, exploring the various types of flora far from the castle.

This episode concludes here. Join us next week as we continue our exploration of the Domain of Chambord Castle, delving deep into the forest. Until next time, take care and keep exploring!