For the fourth year running, the Domaine national de Chambord and the École Nationale des Fleuristes de Paris have joined forces to decorate the château under the theme ‘Prisme de Lumière’. Thirty-seven apprentices from the École Nationale des Fleuristes worked for four days to decorate the various rooms in the château.
This life-size learning experience enabled the students to put into practice their professional floral design techniques, while at the same time trying their hand, some for the first time, at large-scale installation.
Apprentices from the Lycée Horticole and CFA in Blois have been contributing to the flowering of the château for over ten years, making this highlight of their year a real source of wonder and pride for these young people from the region.
In addition to the ground floor, the kitchens and part of the first floor, for the first time, decorations have been created in the arms of the cross on the second floor of the château;
The château and gardens are decorated with pine trees supplied by Pépinères Naudet, and are lit from 3pm to midnight and from 6am to sunrise.
Lighting and energy conservation
For several years now, Chambord has been committed to sustainable development and the implementation of an energy transition plan. These actions have an impact on the operation of the estate as well as on visitor services. In this context, the Christmas lights will be powered by solar energy.
Solar energy to light up the trees
The Domaine national de Chambord is renewing its partnership with the Roy Energie Group, by lighting up the LED garlands on the Christmas trees with a self-sufficient and sustainable solution. To do this, a photovoltaic power plant with 54 solar panels is installed on the ground and powers the lighting of the trees. This reusable and independent device operates off-grid with a 25,000 Wh battery providing eight hours of autonomy. With this installation, the sun’s rays are captured during the day and restored at nightfall to light the avenue of trees independently.
Circadian lighting of the façade
Chambord has been a pioneer in sound and light since 1952. Illuminations are part of its tradition. Since 2018, a partnership with EDF and Citélum allows a sustainable and reasoned lighting of the facade of the castle. Bulbs “LED” are distributed over a length of 156 meters. The moving light is similar to the natural light of the sun and the moon. This circadian process (28 minutes rhythm) reveals the beauty of the architecture of Chambord.
Chambord is going all out with more and more decorations and illuminations in the castle and its surroundings. In addition to the outdoor pathways, which are sublimated by a hundred or so illuminated trees, the magic of Christmas is taking over the French gardens, where the yew trees are dressed in glittering garlands. From the flowerbeds or from the top of the panoramic terraces, a magical atmosphere floats by. It is at nightfall that the facades of the castle and the 18th century gardens will reveal all their beauty.
