I was lucky enough to spend some time touring this beautiful chateau a couple of years ago. It really provoked my imagination and, as happens with basically every chateau for me, I was taken with it. I know all these beautiful old places need varying degrees of restoration work and it is a constant challenge but I've been ignorant to the fact that different parts of Chambord were closed to the public because of its fragile state.
Today in Le Monde I read that since last summer they've had to close off the reception hall and Francois I's study in addition to what had already been closed off under hazard orders. But, this is still an absolutely amazing place and this fact should not make anyone hesitate to go - quite the opposite in fact!
The article said that even though Chambord is the second most visited chateau in France, they are #15 on the heritage budget list and most members of the public don't know how much restoration needs to be done or at risk the chateau, particularly the Francois I wing, really is. I'd link the Le Monde article but it's behind a paywall. :( I did find a link to a different article about it from March here and a link from Chambord itself here in case you're interested. I plan on being a "Guardian Angel of Chambord" and I cannot wait to go back!
According to the articles, if they succeed in their endeavors, they expect to reopen everything around 2032 & also develop an auditorium and museum experiences that the director general hopes will make Chambord the "'flagship of an intellectual center focused on the Renaissance". Le Monde quoted the director general as saying the Renaissance is not that well known in France (which kinda blew me away) but he felt that "our own time of upheaval can be reflected through the lens of that 16th century transformation. Interesting.
Have you been or will you be going to Chambord? What did you particularly enjoy/what are you looking forward to most?