François 1er

François Ier (Francis I) was born in Cognac on September 12, 1494 and became King of France in 1515. Celebrated as France’s first Renaissance monarch, he was a voracious patron of the arts who invited Leonardo da Vinci to reside in the Loire Valley. His architectural impact on the region was profound: having spent much of his childhood at the Château d’Amboise, he later commissioned the construction of the monumental Château de Chambord, influenced by Italian design principles. At the Château de Blois, he initiated a major renovation that resulted in the François Ier Wing, famous for its magnificent open-sided spiral staircase. He passed away at the Château de Rambouillet on March 31, 1547.

Château royal de Blois

Blois

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