Restoring the Towers of Chambord

All six towers of the Chateau of Chambord are covered in scaffolding as part of a 3.5 million euro project to repair the structural integrity of the lanterns and to ensure the roofs don't leak. When they were inspected prior to the work it was realised that the roof timbers no longer reach the walls in some cases. Water is getting in and mixing with the tannins in the oak, causing damage to the lead or zinc flashing. The roofs are already twisting and sagging, and if it continues and the roofs are not repaired they will simply collapse as the wood disintegrates. No repairs have been carried out on these lanterns since 1967 and the last big restoration was in the 19th century.

Over time the decorative lead finials have all disappeared or degraded, so a collection of salamanders, fleur de lis and volutes are being made by skilled crafts persons. They will be given a suitable dark blue-gray patina or gilded and reinstated.

The four towers on the corners of the square central keep have lead roofs, and the other two have slate roofs. Each is 12 metres high including their weathervane (10.3 metres without). There is 15 tonnes of roofing material up there, half of which is lead. The scaffolding is 54 metres long and weighs 80 tonnes. Thirty people will take 10 000 man hours to complete the work, including 4000 hours for replacing the slates on the lanterns (light wells).