France, Loire Valley - Château d'Azay-le-Rideau IV (The Town)

When you’ve finished your visit and want a break, 

the town of Azay-le-Rideau is on the doorstep of the castle and is well worth a stop. 

It is a pretty typical sleepy Loire village.

France, Loire Valley - Château d'Azay-le-Rideau III

The Azay-le-Rideau Castle interior is synonymous with an Italian Renaissance one, with richly carved decoration. 

Traces of the Flemish Renaissance still remain, 

which are visible through 16th and 17th century tapestries, displayed in several places throughout the castle. 

The interior is made up of several drawing rooms and stately rooms, 

with the majority redecorated in the 19th century Neo-Renaissance style.

France, Loire Valley - Château d'Azay-le-Rideau II

Unfinished for many years, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau has a distinctive L-shaped design,

 as the architect's quadrilateral design was never completed. 

Although a small chateau, 

Azay-le-Rideau makes up for its lack of stature in the sheer beauty of this tranquil setting. 

The elegant, ornate architecture is reflected in the water of the mirror lakes 

and the landscaped gardens of the 19th century make it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the serene view.

France, Loire Valley - Château d'Azay-le-Rideau I

The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is located in the town of Azay-le-Rideau in the French département of Indre-et-Loire. 

It was built by a wealthy financier, Gilles Berthelot, during the reign of Francis I, between 1518-1527. 

A subtle blend of French tradition and innovative Italian decor, 

it is an icon of the new art of building in the Loire Valley in the 16th century. 

Set on an island in the middle of the Indre, the château seems to rise straight out of the waters of the river, 

which reflect the castle's façades so that the château appears to float in its own image. 

The writer Balzac, who lived nearby and was occasionally a guest at the château, deeply admired the building, 

describing it as 'a facetted diamond, set in the Indre'. 

This striking setting has helped Azay-le-Rideau to become one of the most famous of the Loire's many châteaux.

Its successive owners have helped to make it the most architecturally harmonious treasure in the Loire Valley. 

In 1905, the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau came under State ownership.