The largest chateau of the Loire continues to puzzle us as to the wherefore of its huge scale. Chambord is one of the major architectural masterpieces of the Renaissance, particularly noted for its famous double staircase. Its harmony and beauty bear the hallmark of Leonardo da Vinci, although the great master died in 1519, a few months before the construction project commissioned by François I started. The chateau is set in extensive grounds and formal gardens, restored in 2017.