In this new article, we want you to discover one of the many Châteaux of the Loire. Indeed, we take you visit the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, one of the jewels of the region. Learn a little more about its history, things to see and visit, both outside and inside the castle. Finally, we will give you some practical advice for organizing your visit to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Summary:- History of the Château
- The natural areas of the Domain
- Visit the castle of Azay-le-Rideau
- Practical information for your visit
Book online, quickly and easily, your skip-the-line ticket to access the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. This ticket allows you to skip the queues! Book your entry
History of the castle of Azay-le-Rideau
The presence of a fortress in Azay-le-Rideau is mentioned from the 1418th century. In XNUMX, the building was occupied by Burgundian troops; Charles VII decides to cause a fire to dislodge its occupants. The building is largely destroyed.
The Castle in the XNUMXth century
Gilles Berthelot, François I's financier, acquired the fortress in 1511 and had it completely rebuilt to transform it into a more modern castle inspired by a French Renaissance style, punctuated with innovations inspired by Italian architecture of the 'era.
Following an investigation ordered by François I against his financiers, Gilles Berthelot was forced to flee; the King requisitions the estate to donate it to Antoine Raffin, one of his comrades in arms.
After various marriages, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau passed into the hands of the Gelais de Lansac family, then the Marquis de Vassé. He will carry out some work in the 1684th century, in particular ordering the creation of a monumental entrance, outbuildings and a half-moon courtyard. His death in XNUMX will leave the building abandoned.
The castle of Azay-le-Rideau in the XNUMXth century
In 1791, the Marquis de Biencourt bought the estate. He then initiated major works, perpetuated by his descendants, to give the castle the shape we know today. The park is laid out in an English style, fashionable at that time. The estate took on its final appearance during the second half of the XNUMXth century.
The castle in the XNUMXth century
After having known several owners, the castle of Azay-le-Rideau was bought by the State in 1905; it will be classified as a Historic Monument soon after. The General Directorate of National Education occupied the premises in 1939 and 1940. Today, the Center des Monuments Nationaux is responsible for managing the castle.
The XNUMXst century: great works
A major restoration campaign was carried out between 2014 and 2017, thus allowing the castle and its estate to regain its former prestige:
- The Park was fully restored in 2014 following its XNUMXth century layout,
- The ground floor has been refurnished to restore its luxurious and welcoming appearance,
- The frames, the roof, part of the masonry, the joinery and the sculptures of the facades have also been fully restored.
Visit the castle of Azay-le-Rideau
The castle of Azay-le-Rideau is erected on an islet between two arms of the Indre, giving an exceptional charm to the domain. The landscaped park and the castle form a remarkable ensemble.
The natural areas of the domain
In the 8th century, the Marquis de Biencourt chose to create English-style gardens, whose free forms leave plenty of room for the natural aspect of the garden. On more than XNUMX hectares of land, several large spaces are to be discovered on the estate:
- The Garden of Secrets:
It was a large vegetable garden in the XNUMXth century. Many varieties of ancient vegetables are now grown there and presented to the public. - The priory garden:
The latter owes its name to the building formerly located there, which was destroyed to be redeveloped into a pleasure garden. It allows direct access to the chapel of the Marquis de Biencourt which houses the graves of several members of the family as well as that of the Marquis de Vassé. - The island of Rémonière:
This island has been open to visitors since 2014. Populated by a dozen species of birds threatened with extinction, you can enter their natural habitat. This area has been classified as a Natura 2000 area with the aim of preserving these species.
The landscaping of the Azay-le-Rideau estate
Arriving at the Castle
Around 1670, Henri-François de Vassé wanted to give his estate a monumental entrance. He thus created a half-moon square, bordered to the south by two symmetrical outbuildings surrounding a large wrought iron gate. It is these buildings that now house the ticket office, a restaurant area and all the amenities necessary to receive the public.
In the extension of the gate, you will take the large alley which will take you to the bridge to access the castle. This bridge was originally surrounded by two lions sculpted in terracotta, holding in their paws the coat of arms of the Biencourt family. You will discover these statues later, on the staircase of the castle.
The exterior of the Château and its courtyard
You will then arrive in the main courtyard, surrounded by the castle built in the form of an L-shaped plan. This type of layout brings a certain asymmetry to the building; it is very likely that another wing was planned to obtain a U-shaped plan, but the flight of Gilles Berthelot in 1527 had to interrupt this project.
Admire the facades surrounding this courtyard: richly carved mullioned windows, moldings surround the huge bays of the grand staircase. The latter, straight and centered inside the main building, is one of the first of this type built in France. Punctuated by landings, the loggias open to the outside allowed the owners to see and be seen by their guests. The ceiling of the staircase is decorated with coffers containing the representations in medallions of the kings and queens of France among others.
The west and south facades of the castle are also remarkable. Delimited by corner turrets at each end, they combine several architectural elements from the Renaissance period as well as from the Middle Ages.
In 1950, the historical monuments removed the cannon boulevard along the building to the south to widen the bed of the river. As under the west facade, the arm of the Indre now reaches the foot of the castle walls, creating a sublime mirror effect.
Inside the castle of Azay-le-Rideau
As you enter the building, take a stroll to discover the great hall, the Biencourt lounge, the library and the billiard room, the kitchens and the bedrooms.
You will be struck by the richness of the decorations: portraits, sculptures, tapestries and furniture demonstrate the importance of the Biencourt family. Not all of these items are original, but the CMN, in partnership with the national furniture, has launched a refurnishing campaign and relies on the archives and inventories of the former owners of the castle to find similar furniture.
In the XNUMXth century, the Biencourt family gathered over the years an impressive collection of works of art of all kinds. With a real private museum, the Marquis will open their doors to the public to allow them to discover this collection.
Finally, on the second floor, you can access the attic of the castle and admire the original framework of the building, remarkably preserved and made up of oaks from the forest of Chinon.
Practical information for visiting the castle of Azay-le-Rideau
Now that you know a little more about this magnificent Château, I suggest you answer a few questions that could be useful to you in preparing for your visit to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
- Opening hours of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
- How much is the entry ?
- How to book entry to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
- Take a guided tour of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
- How long does the visit to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau take?
- Where to park to visit the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
- Access for people with reduced mobility
- Where to stay to visit the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
- The other Châteaux of the Loire to visit around
Opening hours of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau can be visited throughout the year. Nevertheless, the schedules will vary according to the season:
- From the beginning of April to the end of June : open between 9 a.m. and 30 p.m.;
- The months of July and August : open from 9:30 a.m. to 19 p.m.;
- The month of September : open from 9:30 a.m. to 18 p.m.;
- From the beginning of October to the end of March : open between 10 a.m. and 17 p.m.;
- Exceptional closures: January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Regarding the best time to visit this place, I advise you to favor sunny days in order to be able to enjoy the gardens and the outdoors. Otherwise for the interior of the Château, you can enjoy it all year round!
How much is the entry ?
For adults, admission will be €11,50.
There is also a specific rate for groups (20 people minimum) and a reduced rate: €9 per entry.
For children under 18 (excluding school groups) and young people under 25 (European Union nationals), admission is free.
How to book entry to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
To buy your ticket, it's quite simple: you can buy it online and benefit from a skip-the-line ticket, that is to say that it saves you from waiting at the entrance and allows you to enter directly. You won't have to print any document, the electronic ticket on your phone is enough.
Buy your entry for the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau hereTake a guided tour of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Outside the Covid period, an audioguide can be made available to you for an additional €3. Currently, this service is not available.
You will have a document of visit in order to be able to discover this place in perfect autonomy.
You can also take part in a guided tour of the site. You will have to get closer to the Castle to obtain the visiting hours depending on the day you will be there.
Address: 19, rue Balzac
37190 Azay-le-Rideau
Tel. : 02.47.45.42.04
Site internet : http://www.azay-le-rideau.com
How long does the visit to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau take?
To visit the Castle, it will take about 1h30. This visit time may vary depending on the time you wish to spend in the gardens, weather permitting.
Where to park to visit the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
At the entrance to the Château, you can take advantage of a very practical car park. However, this is chargeable. Despite the fact that the 1st hour is free, this duration is not sufficient and if you exceed it, it will ultimately be charged.
Otherwise, you have the possibility of finding free parking spaces in the surrounding area and walking a little to reach the entrance to the Château.
Access for people with reduced mobility
As people with reduced mobility cannot access the castle, an interpretation room has been set up and allows everyone to discover the history and architecture of the building via projections on a large screen as well as various interactive tools adapted to each type. of disability.
Where to stay to visit the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
Let's continue this practical part with some good places to sleep around the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Hotel Grand Monarque
Located in a former coaching inn dating from the XNUMXth century, this hotel is located in the town of Azay-Le-Rideau, not far from the castle of the same name, which is very easily accessible. The rooms are spacious and decorated with antique furniture. An ideal place to stay to visit the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau and the surrounding area. Hotel, Standing See prices
Manor of the Touch
This is a magnificent bed and breakfast for your stay in Azay-le-Rideau. Located in the same town and near the Castle, this former manor has been completely renovated. A mixture of modern and period decoration, this place is steeped in history. The hospitality of the hosts is quite charming. A very nice address for an unforgettable stay. Bed and breakfast, Swimming pool
Nature & Castles
Finally, here is a holiday home located a stone's throw from the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. This beautiful old and very well renovated residence can accommodate families or friends up to 6 people. Ideally located and very nicely decorated, this holiday home will charm you for sure. Holiday house, 6 pers. See prices
The other Châteaux of the Loire to visit around
To conclude this article, here are some of the Châteaux de la Loire located near the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau and which may be worth the detour!
- Villandry Castle :
This castle is a stone's throw from Azay-le-Rideau and is particularly renowned for its absolutely magnificent gardens! - The Chateau of Amboise:
Located in the town of Amboise and overlooking the Loire, this magnificent castle has an exceptional geographical location. It is also the burial place of the famous Leonardo da Vinci! - Le Clos Lucé in Amboise:
Former home of Leonardo da Vinci, this small castle is quite charming and don't miss the park where many of his inventions are reproduced. - The Château de Chaumont:
This magnificent building has a breathtaking view of the Loire. Beautifully decorated and presenting beautiful collections, this Château is worth a visit. - Chenonceau Castle:
This magnificent castle is worth a detour both for its gardens and for its interior. The history of the different women present throughout history largely explains the current layout. - The Minis Châteaux Park:
An original visit to discover the different Châteaux of the Loire in miniature version!
