2025
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The castle of Azay-le-Rideau has one of the first straight staircases built in France.
Nestled on stilts in the heart of an island on the Indre River, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, built between 1518 and 1527, was restored to its architectural splendor in 2017 (after 3 years of renovation), perfectly representing the new Renaissance ideal. A must-see among the jewels of the Loire Valley castles, Azay-le-Rideau enchants visitors from all over the world. Acquired by the State in 1905, it has been listed as a Monument Historique since 1914. Its turrets and neo-Renaissance facade, mirrored in the Indre River, reveal a romantic, bucolic spirit, magnificently evoked by Balzac in his novel Le Lys dans la vallée: "Climbing a ridge, I first admired the Château d'Azay, a faceted diamond set by the Indre River, mounted on flower-masked pilings
Built during the reign of François I, the château replaced a 12th-century medieval fortress on the land of Gilles Berthelot, the king's financier. Under the supervision of his wife, Philippe Lesbahy, the building harmoniously blends traditional French elements with Italian art, representing the early French Renaissance. Architectural evolutions over the centuries have been integrated without mixing styles, making Azay-le-Rideau a rare gem.
Like Chambord, the staircase, one of the first with a straight banister in France, is a masterpiece. The salons, billiard room and Grande Salle are elegantly furnished, perfectly illustrating the art of 19th-century living. Thanks to a partnership with the Mobilier National, we were able to restore the decor of the ground-floor apartments. The Renaissance bedroom, with its braided rush mats lining the walls to insulate the room from the cold, offers a plunge into the 16th century. The attic, roof structure, period furniture and decorative elements add an immersive dimension. The press room introduces the visit with interactive digital tools, blending the past and the contemporary.
The discovery of the château extends to the gardens, an 8-hectare green setting, also listed as a Historic Monument for its collection of bicentenary trees. Walkways and small bridges spanning the river lend a romantic atmosphere to the whole. The park, with its kitchen garden faithful to that of the Biencourt family, owners of the site from 1791 to 1882, offers a bucolic stroll and a plunge into the regional flora of yesteryear.
In 2025, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau celebrates its fifth centenary. Evening show in summer.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
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Further information
Opening time and information on AZAY-LE-RIDEAU CASTLE
Open all year round. Closed January 1, May 1 and December 25. Open every day. October to March 10am to 5:15pm; April to June and September 9:30am to 6pm; July, August 9:30am to 7pm. Last admission 1h before closing time. Free admission for children under 25. Adults from 13€. Groups from 11.5€. Junior audio-guide available. Vacation vouchers. Every first Sunday from November to March, free admission to the château. Guided tour. Tearoom. Gift store.
Owner's Message
Dressing the marvelous, stage costumes
EXHIBITION ONGOING until November 3, 2024
Immerse yourself in the enchantment of stage costumes. Opera, ballet and theater costumes transform the château into a veritable fairy tale.
PRESENTATION
Come and discover the sumptuous stage costumes on display at the château, as part of the exceptional exhibition "Habiller le merveilleux, costumes de scène" organized in partnership with the Centre national du costume et de la scène.
A mediator will tell you wonderful tales of kings and queens, princes and princesses, fairies and elves, presenting costumes from the ballet, theater and opera repertoires. The castle is transformed into a veritable fairy tale!
You'll marvel at Sylvie Guillem's tutu in Swan Lake, Princess Isoline's gown and that of the fairy queen Titania in Isoline.
Members' reviews on AZAY-LE-RIDEAU CASTLE
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
Renovation ai top
De plus, étant venus un jour pluvieux de janvier, nous avions presque le château pour nous, c'était parfait ! Il est magnifique, que ce soit à l'intérieur ou à l'extérieur, et avec un bon parapluie, la pluie sur l'Indre lui donne beaucoup de charme.
Nous reviendrons à notre prochain séjour en Touraine,
Donc merci à tous,
À l'année prochaine ! (J'ai oublié de signer le livre d'or ????)
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À la fin du XVe siècle, Martin Berthelot († vers 1498), maître de la chambre aux deniers du roi, reçoit en dot de sa femme l'ancienne forteresse d'Azay qui avait été achetée par le père de celle-ci, bourgeois de Tours. Son fils, Gilles Berthelot, trésorier de France et plus tard maire de Tours, complète en 1512 l’acquisition à Azay de biens qui forment alors son domaine d'Azay2.
Le château d'Azay-le-rideau est bâti de 1518 à 1524 par un architecte non identifié à ce jour3 pour Gilles Berthelot et son épouse Philippe Lesbahy, à l'emplacement d'un château féodal qui selon la tradition, aurait été érigé pour un certain Huges Ridel et fut démantelé et brûlé en 1418 par le Dauphin lors de l'invasion de la Touraine par le duc de Bourgogne4.