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| Built between 1519 and 1547 for King Francis I as a hunting lodge (440 rooms), the building incorporates a range of mathematical patterns. The form follows a square grid, but undoubtedly the highlight is the double helix staircase that may have been designed by Leonardo de Vinci. He lived close to the property and was a friend of the king. |
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| Slits in the walls of the staircase enable you to have conversations with the person on the same height, but on the other stairway, of the double helix. |
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| I spent almost the whole time we were in the chateau ascending and descending the stairway. Sad. |
Why sad? It's an engineering and structural wonder!!! ONLY 400 odd rooms? I mean - really? One, two, three - many!! However, there maybe method in the mathematics ..... Innocently lost for a time:) Granduer on an epic scale. Three classes: the church, the aristocrats (who controlled the army) and the serfs. I know what I would have wanted to be but also know what I would have been!!
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