Even though it might have had the reputation of being an empty château, Chambord now conserves a major collection of furniture and works of art. Empty it certainly was, once the royal courts of François I and Louis XIV had departed its walls, and still more so after the revolutionary auctions of 1793. Refurnishing began in the mid-19th century, when the Count of Chambord decided to open the monument to the public. He brought in works from his family collections, along with others specially purchased for the purpose. The collections continued to be filled out over the course of the years, mainly by royal portraits coming from his mother the Duchess of Berry’s collections. When the estate became State property in 1930, the château boasted a fine collection of works of art, although only seven items of furniture are mentioned as adorning its 440 rooms.

The State gradually improved the look of the château’s apartments, basing itself on the various inventories that had turned up and whatever opportunities for acquisition presented themselves. At present, the Château conserves over 4,500 items in its inventory, including one of the finest collections of tapestries to be found anywhere in France. Mainly made up of 17th century French hangings (such as the Story of Artemis, François I’s Hunts, and Meleager), it also contains 16th century tapestries (the de’ Medici workshop), and 17th and 18th century Brussels tapestries (including depictions of Scipio and Meleager), all set off perfectly by Chambord’s walls. As regards furniture and objets d’art, the château conserves a number of really remarkable items, such as a Savonnerie carpet bearing Louis XV’s coat of arms, and paintings by Rigaud, Van Loo, Juste d’Egmont, Mignard, Girardet and Largillière. A magnificent ensemble just waiting to reveal its riches to you!