I emailed this question to the chateau website, but have had no reply. But with the wealth of knowledge on this forum, hopefully someone can help me.

Whenever we pass through the Loire (which isn't that often, so far) we try to fit in a chateau visit. This time we're passing close to Chambord. (...and Cheverny, and Beauregard, and Beaugency...but anyway Chambord's the one we've picked on).

In order to guess how far we might get that night, I need to know -
Are tours of Chambord all guided tours, or can you wander through independently?
If all guided, how frequent are English-commentary tours, and how long does a tour take?

Thanks in anticipation...

On the two occasions I have been we just walked around independently. I can't remember whether there were any English tours on offer which we decided to forgo or they weren't available.

Incidentlly there is isn't much in the way of furnishings etc at Chambord to look at inside but it is still interesting to see the architecture and wonderful up on the roof level.

I've been half a dozen times or so and never taken, or even noticed, a tour. Since there's not much IN the château, I don't think there's a need for tours.

Maybe they have them (the website should clarify that), but I don't think you need one.

They do have interesting medieval presentations in summer. We chanced upon one last time we were there.

Great - that means no delay waiting for a tour start time, and we can do it as fast or slow as we like.

Thought we might have to stop overnight at St Aignan (nothing wrong with that!), but maybe we will make it as far as Montresor or Loches instead.

I didn't take a tour either, and didn't see any being given. I arrived around 3:30 or so and saw lots of people streaming out. It wasn't crowded at all and I had plenty of time to wander around until it closed at 6PM. I got the audioguide. Don't miss going up on the roof and seeing all those tall chimneys up close.

ditto what others say. I don't think they offer guided tours. They do have a very detailed audioguide for an extra 4 euro. I didn't think it was necessary as most of the rooms have english displays.

<i>They do have interesting medieval presentations in summer</i>

Isn't that somewhat anachronistic as it was built as a Renaissance castle? Years ago we took a tour, or overheard a tour guide--I don't remember which--who explained that such castles meant as hunting lodges on a very grand scale did not have permanent furnishings. The court came with all its furniture. Of course, this may simply have been a easy way of explaining the lack of furniture.

Most major Loire Chateaux have Son-et-Lumiere extravaganzas at night that re-create Renaissance events of the castle's history or during its heyday

Years ago there were mandatory tours of the castles by bored guides who knew very little except talking points and stuck their hand out at the end of the tour much like a turnstile

Thank God these are long gone - many have multi-lingual Walkman tours if you want to pay a bit extra or you just walk thru

You're right, Michael. But it was a medieval presentation, with jousters on horseback and maidens singing ballads.

And yes, the ch&acirc;teaux were unfurnished because the royal households carried their furniture and possessions with them.

Still, Chambord has so many architectural delights, especially the windows and the roof, it never struck me as being too bare to be of interest.

Just the sheer BULK of the place and the setting are worth the effort in my opinion despite the lack of inside adornment. I will say that Leonardo double staircase is a bear and the views from the roof are wonderful.

the most monumental and awe-inspiring, if not the most sublime of all Loire chateaus IMO

thousands and thousands of windows

There are guided boat tours of the moat and canal system around the chateau. We thought our boat tour was more interesting than the chateau itself. It goes right up to the walls of the chateau then heads around way out into the canal system.
Take the first boat tour in the morning and you might luck into a private tour, as we did. Later boats are packed.
Montresor is a gorgeous village, but restaurants are thin on the ground there. You may or may not run into Polish tour groups given the castle's strong Polish connection. At Montresor chateau, part of it is guided and part of it is independent.
Re son et lumiere shows, we've seen many, but for ambience none beats the show that takes place throughout the old town in Bourges on summer evenings.

Enormous, truly enormous - and seeing it can be somewhat confusing - so be sure you have a good plan of the rooms. But no guides are needed - nor did we see one there. Just leave yourselves enough time not to be rushed.