Château de Chambord is the castle that inspired Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and stepping inside really is a fairytale come true. My daughter still talks about when we went to the real princess castle and climbed the princess staircase! Chambord Castle is one of the most recognisable in France due to its French Renaissance architecture. It’s the largest of the Loire Valley castles and makes a great kid-friendly day out.

The château was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Francis I, and was used as a symbol of power which he liked to show visiting sovereigns and ambassadors. However it was never inhabited by him and went through periods of disrepair and various owners until it became state property in 1930. 

During the second world war it played an important part in preserving artwork from the museums of Paris from bombing and looting by the Nazi’s. It became the largest of 83 depots used to house artworks and during this period housed iconic artworks such as the Mona Lisa and The Lady With A Unicorn. There is an excellent exhibition inside the château that highlights the importance of its role in preserving these artworks. My son is 7 and really enjoyed this exhibition so it’s definitely worth making time for if you have the chance.

In 1981 Château de Chambord was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the château, park and gardens have undergone extensive restoration efforts to become what it is today. We visited as part of our 4 week family trip to France (you can read about it here) and had a really good day out.

So, here are my best tips for visiting Château de Chambord with kids: 

Book ahead.

This saves time on the day and means you can book tickets for the horse show or bird of prey show. One mistake that we made was to buy tickets on the day. We arrived early but still had to queue for quite a while. Which isn’t my favourite thing to do with kids! It also meant that the tickets for the horse show were already sold out so we weren’t able to see it. If I was going again I would definitely book a couple of days in advance so we could get the full experience. This horse show was new for 2025 and incorporates giant projectors, waterfalls and the castle’s own horses to take you on a journey through the château’s 500 year history. The show last year was fantastic and so to see it with the horses as well would be a real treat. Definitely worth booking early for!

Chambord parking and stroller access.

Parking is extensive and is a set fee for the day so you can pay either on exit or entry. We found the queues to be much longer towards the end of the day when everyone is leaving so if you want to save time you can pay when you arrive. No buggies or metal framed carriers are allowed in the castle and gravel paths can make pushchairs difficult anyway. They can be left at the castle entrance free of charge but if you have a young baby or toddler that needs to be carried you will need a soft baby carrier for them.

Hire a Rosalie.

A 4 person bike, to explore the grounds. The grounds are extensive and so to walk around them is a lot for kids, which is why we hired a rosalie. I’m glad we did as it was so much fun! This 4 seater bike has pedals for the back two seats with kids seats up front so they have a great view as you ride around. Our kids are 4 and 7 and they absolutely loved it. It cost us 20euro for an hour, which was plenty of time for us to do a lap of the grounds and stop a couple of times at various viewpoints. If you prefer to take a boat you can also hire an electric punt which is 22euro for 30 minutes. We decided to get the rosalie because it has been a warm, dry spring and there were some areas of water that were so low that they were no longer accessible.

Plan your visit.

So that you have time to see everything you want to. If you do get tickets to the horse show or birds of prey show it’s worth considering what you want to see and do so that you can plan your trip around it. There is so much to do including the castle itself with its art and historical exhibitions, the vineyards (they do tastings), the vegetable gardens, stables, formal gardens and the Grand Promenade.

Check out the dedicated kids area with the library, play corner and dress up.

The team have done a great job of creating kid-approved things to do in Chambord and there are a number of educational and fun activities they can take part in. If your children speak French they can meet Julien the Watchmaker and other characters who will take them on a journey through the history of the château. Or they can explore the castle through the Book of Castle Riddles. If they are able to solve the riddles and discover the mystery word they get a small reward. Don’t worry if your kids don’t speak French though, there is still plenty for them to enjoy. The discovery area is dedicated to helping children learn more about Chambord and its history. The area has sixteen different activities to engage children, including sensory activities and the opportunity to dress up. All of the activities in the discovery area are available in French and English.

Take the double helix staircase and race to the top.

The château plans were drawn around the central staircase which was influenced by Leonardo Da Vinci, an artist who inspired the King in his vision for the château. The double staircase ascends from the first floor, all the way to the terraces and incredible views of the Estate. Our kids had fun racing to the top on opposite staircases (don’t forget to take photos of each other through the internal windows).  From the terraces you can walk around and admire the view of the whole Estate. The formal gardens look so impressive from the top because you really appreciate the symmetry and the work that has gone into them.

Explore the park on foot by or bike.

Walking or cycling around Château de Chambord with kids is easy thanks to dedicated cycle paths that have been created in and around the park. There are over 25km of cycle paths in total, including a new Grand Promenade circuit which loops around the château for fantastic views. You either bring your own bikes (there are bike parks near the car park), or you can hire a bike at the château. As the castle was originally built as a hunting lodge it should be no surprise to you that it is home to plenty of wildlife. Stags and wild boar are kept in the park for visitors to observe as well as a rich and diverse bird population. Our kids are not always too keen to go for a walk but they are always excited to go on a wild boar hunt! Unfortunately they are usually pretty noisy so any deer in the area will move away before we even see them.

Where to eat near Château de Chambord with kids.

There are lots of places to eat on the village square and I loved that the restaurants really seem to focus on and celebrate produce that is either from the château or the local area. The restaurants do get quite busy though so it’s worth maybe eating a little earlier or going to the Autour du Puits (around the well) which offers ice creams, snacks and a more casual dining experience. If you prefer to take your own picnic you can do so. There are plenty of picnic spots in the surrounding forested areas or you can lay a blanket down under the trees, in the gardens at the front of the château. Just make sure that you don’t have any sharp knives in your picnic bag as these won’t be allowed in the château (we got caught out by a knife I had packed to cut cheese).

Have you visited Château de Chambord?