• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Travel Notes & Beyond logo

The Opinionated Travelogue of a Photo Maniac

  • Home
  • DESTINATIONS
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • South America
    • Pacific Islands
  • FOOD & WINE
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
  • TRAVEL RESOURCES
  • OTHER TOPICS
    • Rants & Raves
    • Reviews
    • Travel Blogger Interviews
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Form
    • Privacy Policy
    • Media Kit
    • Featured Elsewhere
  • Search
  • Home
  • DESTINATIONS
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • South America
    • Pacific Islands
  • FOOD & WINE
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
  • TRAVEL RESOURCES
  • OTHER TOPICS
    • Rants & Raves
    • Reviews
    • Travel Blogger Interviews
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Form
    • Privacy Policy
    • Media Kit
    • Featured Elsewhere
  • Search
Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau – a Hidden Gem in the Loire Valley

Home » DESTINATIONS » Château d’Azay-le-Rideau – a Hidden Gem in the Loire Valley

Last Modified: August 23, 2023 //  by Anda //  3 Comments

Standing on an island in the middle of the Indre River, about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Tours, lies one of the finest châteaux of the Loire Valley: the Château Azay-le-Rideau.

Table of Contents

  • A Brief History of the Château Azay le Rideau
    • A Never-Ending Construction
  • What to Expect at Chateau Azay le Rideau
  • Practical Information for Visiting the Castle
    • Where to Eat Around Azay le Rideau

A Brief History of the Château Azay le Rideau

Château Azay-le-Rideau was built during the reign of King François I by a rich financier, Gilles Berthelot, who wanted his fabulous new home to have all the technical innovations of his time and the allure of French Castle.

Château Azay le Rideau had a very turbulent history. The current castle sits on the site of a former medieval fortress built in the 12th century by seigneur Ridel (or Rideau) d’Azay, a knight in the service of Philip II Augustus. The fortress was erected here to protect the road from Tours to Chinon.

Unlike Chateau d’Amboise, or Chenonceau, Azay le Rideau was never a royal residence.

frontal view of Chateau Azay Le Rideau
Chateau d’Azay le Rideau

During the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War the original castle fell victim to a dispute between the two political groups who burned it to the ground. The fortification remained in ruins till the mid 1500s, when Gilles Berthelot, Mayor of Tours, acquired it.

Berthelot wanted the building to reflect his wealth and status. He built the château in an Italian renaissance style, but added some medieval elements – like the bastion corners and the turrets – which were a symbol of prestige.

The building process was slow and tedious. The ground was so damp, that the builders had to drive stilts into the mud in order to build the château.

View of Azay Le Rideau castle from the garden
View of the château from the garden

A Never-Ending Construction

Unfortunately, Berthelot was never able to finis his dream castle. Amid betrayal and unfortunate circumstances he was forced to flee the country and go into exile, where he died a few years later.

Francis I of France confiscated the unfinished château and gave it to Antoine Raffin, one of his knights. Raffin attempted some minor renovations, but never completed the project either.

Garden view of Château Azay Le Rideau
Château d’Azay le Rideau garden view

Out of the entire building plan, the only parts ever built were the south and the west wings. Hence the distinctive L-shape of the château.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands many times and even came close to burning to the ground again. In the 19th century, the turrets were added at the corners of the chateau to create the illusion of a completed castle. 

The château grounds
The château grounds

What to Expect at Chateau Azay le Rideau

Despite being unfinished, the château doesn’t seem to be missing anything: the structure is perfectly symmetrical. Its elegant turrets, perfectly proportioned windows, delicate stonework and steep slate roofs are very pleasing to the eye. 

The famous, Italian-style loggia staircase overlooking the central courtyard is decorated with salamanders and ermines, symbols of King François I and Queen Claude.

The loggia staircase at Azay Le Rideau
The loggia staircase at Azay Le Rideau

Unlike other water castles which are surrounded by water filled moats, Château Azay le Rideau was actually built on a small island in the middle of the Indre River. So the water that you see around the castle is not actually a moat, but the river waters.

The lovely English-style gardens are well worth a walk around. There are many examples of ‘world trees’ offering shade from the hot summer’s sun.

The English-style garden at Château Azay Le Rideau
The beautiful gardens at the château

The interior of the chateau is equally charming. The decor was created by the Marquis Charles de Biencourt (who bought the château after the Revolution). All the rooms are furnished in a variety of period styles, mostly from the 19th century.

Interior decor at the Château d’Azay le Rideau

With its great living room and extraordinary fireplace, the castle’s furniture tries to recreate the luxury and cozy atmosphere of the Biencourt family.  Don’t miss the wood paneling, painted ceilings and curtains.

DSC_0535
Château d’Azar-le-Rideau, view from the garden

Château Azay le Rideau is neither grandiose, nor historically important. Yet, it’s one of the most beautiful and romantic castles in the Loire Valley and a perfect example of the elegance of the Renaissance era.

Practical Information for Visiting the Castle

We visited the château on a self-guided tour. The château offers a one-hour free guided tour in French. Also, audioguides are available in five languages.

There are several guided tours which you can book online. There is one which includes Azay Le Rideau, Langeais and Villandry castles. You can also reserve your ticket online, to skip the lines.

Where to Eat Around Azay le Rideau

There are quite a few nice place to eat within a few hundred meters of the château, in the attractive, stone-built village centre of Azay Le Rideau.

If you are looking for some low budget restaurants, try La Fringale, or Brasserie Des Halles. These are both very decent places where you can have burgers, pizzas, soups and salads, at very affordable prices.

L’Aigle d’Or serves a 3-course lunch for €33 in a nice and relaxed garden setting. The food was very tasty and beautifully presented.

Food at a restaurant in Azay Le Rideau
Food at Auberge Pom’poire

If you are looking for fine dining in a beautiful setting, Auberge Pom’poire has you covered. The restaurant is tucked up off a small country road along the orchards. The menu changes with the seasons and includes many vegetarian and even vegan dishes.

Azay-le-Rideau is 26km southwest of Tours. If you are coming by train from Tours, the train station is just 2.5km west of the château.


OPENING HOURS:
October to March : 10 am to 5:00 pm
April to June and in September : 9:30 am to 6 pm
July and August : 9:30 am to 7 pm
Last admission: 1h before closing 

The Château is closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25 

ADMISSION RATES:
Adult rate: €11.50  
Children less than 18 get free admission (with family) 
Audioguides: €3.00

If enjoyed reading this post, please pin it for later:

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

  • How to Spend 3 Days in Paris – the Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit
  • 10 Most Beautiful Beaches to Visit on the French Riviera
  • Château de la Ferté Saint-Aubin – a Hidden Treasures of the Loire Valley
  • Visiting the Picture-Perfect Château de Sully-sur-Loire


Category: DESTINATIONS, Europe, FranceTag: Castles and Fortresses, Loire Valley

About Anda

Anda is an award winning travel writer, avid globetrotter and passionate photographer. She is the voice behind "Travel Notes & Beyond," a collection of stories and travel impressions from her wanderings around the world. When she is not busy writing, traveling, or editing photographs, you can find her hiking in the foothills behind her house together with her husband and their dog.

Previous Post: « Château de la Napoule – the Destiny of an Enchanted Castle
Next Post: What You Should Know About Romanians Before You Travel to Romania »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Esther

    November 16, 2014 at 12:34 am

    I have been to this castle, over 10 years ago! And I thought it was beautiful. There are many gorgeous castle along the Loire. Did you get to visit Amboise by any chance?

    Reply
    • Anda Galffy

      November 16, 2014 at 12:42 am

      Yes, I did, Esther. I loved Amboise.

      Reply
  2. Anda Galffy

    November 15, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Thank you, Samiya.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Travel Notes & Beyond a collection of travel stories and itinerary ideas designed to encourage independent travel at any age, while providing tips and useful information to help you make the most of your trip. Read More

 

Opt-in Form

POPULAR POSTS

  • Riding the Golden Pass Line from Lucerne to Interlaken
  • Towns in Sicily 10 Amazing Towns in Sicily That Everyone Should See
  • Red Rock Crossing Sedona, Arizona Red Rock Crossing – Hiking Sedona’s Most Iconic Trail
  • “The Crucifixion” – the Largest Painting Ever Painted
  • Places to Visit in Jerusalem 23 Historic Places to Visit in Jerusalem Old City

Footer

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All rights reserved © Travel Notes & Beyond. The material on this website is protected by copyright law. Republishing the content on this blog (including text, photography, etc.) is strictly prohibited.

Awards

  • Gold Award Winner
  • Silver Award Winner

AFFILIATE PROGRAM DISCLOSURE

Some of the pages and posts of this blog contain links to products and services that may be useful for my readers. When clicking on these links you will have the option to purchase or register for a service at no extra cost to you, but doing so can help me offset the costs associated with running this blog. Thank you for your support!

 
SHOP AMAZON HERE
Auto Europe vous offre des promotions sur les autos, les vols, et les hôtels.
Save On Airport Parking

Copyright © 2025 · Travel Notes & Beyond. All rights reserved

548 shares
  • 478