Ah, Château Royal de Blois, the first castle I had ever visited in Val de Loire. I remember turning the corner and seeing how impressive it looked, lit-up on the top of the hill at night. I felt like I had just stepped up a social ranking while entering the village, there's just wealth everywhere you look. However, I jumped back into reality once I checked-in to the Ibis Budget Hotel.
We only stayed the night, but it's all you need to get a feel for the area, and a tour of the castle. Château Royal de Blois is in itself the center of the town. It's not like most, however, because it's shaped like a courtyard. Unless you have paid to enter, you won't have a clue what it looks like (but Google is your friend).
What I love about it is how vastly different each side is. On one side you have the architecture of François I, with the beautiful white Italian-inspired staircase. On the other side, you have what was deemed as King Louis XII's Wing, showered in red brick and a mix between Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
King's loved the hell out of this château. No really, I'm talking designated party place since the 13th century. So many big names of French history, of which most of you studied for one year in grade school, have walked through these doors.
Some inclinations of who lived here are still within the castle. For example, this ridiculously gaudy bedroom was that of Henry IV's of which you can see his initials in the floor tile.
And of course here is Louis XII's fireplace. You'll always know it's him when you see the crowned porcupine. Legend is that he used this symbol just as a way to show his defense against enemies, or hey maybe he just wanted to poke them.
What really got me more than anything was the view of Blois. When you visit France you will rarely see a town like this. It resembled northern countries like Belgium with black, triangular roofs, and identical houses lining the river.
The church was technically built in the 12th century, but it was destroyed and only the remains of the crypt were left. Dead people ::shivers:: no thanks. It had been entirely reconstructed in the 17th century in a very Gothic style. Not my cup of tea, but the inside vaulted ceilings were nice.
All in all, it's worth visiting. If you have the cash to spend at Chanel or Dior, then it's really worth visiting. I'm sure you won't be checking into Ibis Budget.

I'll give you the less boring textbook version. It's important you know the history because just skimming through the pics really isn't enough on this one. So, let's begin.
Big headed King François I began this project in 1519. My guess is he had little man syndrome because it was a ginormous castle not built for protection, no, but merely to say hey look what I pretty things I can afford. He even had his worst enemy Emperor Charles V stay there as a slap in the face.
It's entirely Renaissance structure, and yet no one is 100% sure who designed it. So if you get asked this on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, you better phone Leonardo da Vinci. It's between him, Domenico da Cortona, and Philibert Delorme, who may or may not have contributed to the design.
Sooooo 28 years later, it was still barely complete, the punk died, and it was abandoned for 80 years. More or less the story goes that it eventually was passed down to several people, but because all 440 rooms were so unbareably cold and there was 0 means for food around, no one wanted to stay there. Good job François.
In 1792, the government basically sold anything and everything in the château and left it completely empty. I almost feel bad for this castle it's passed around like a sad little orphan.
The only person until 1820 who cared to do anything with the Chambord was Louis Alexandre Berthier (named Comte de Chambord). They continued rebuilding it, furnishing it, and finally making it livable. Too bad he and his father were soon exiled so that didn't work out too well either.
Very very long story, semi-short is that the government took it over in 1930, and over half a million visitors per year can now snap some photos like me. You can also see the gardens which are incredible in the summer. François I even threw a mote in there for the heck of it.

Here's 3 things that caught my attention while I visited:

1. Double helix
Said to be designed by da Vinci but who really knows. The cool thing is the light atop of 2 winding staircases that some how never meet. You can be walking at the same level as another person right on the opposite side of you and not see them, it's crazy.

2. Bloody shoes
These are the shoes of a woman who found her husband murdered in the castle. Super disgusting but I was fascinated by it.

3. 18th century bedroom
Left as is by the state. This bedroom was furnished and lived in by the final family to own the château, the Duke of Parma.

But the last, final thing you need to know about this castle is that it was the inspiration for Disney's Beauty and the Beast..which by the way was made in 1991 the year I was born. It's a sign I should own this place.