In July and August 2009, the Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau (Centre-Val de Loire) offers visitors the chance to visit the site on a mild summer evening, and be captivated by the magical dramatised tour Songes et Lumières (Dreams & Lights).
On an island in the middle of the River Indre, the chateau, in its present form, was built during the reign of Francis I, by a rich financier, Gilles Berthelot, who sought to combine innovations brought over from Italy with the art of French building. Nestled in a green setting, the waters of the Indre lap at the chateau’s feet and reflect its façade. A listed historic monument, the Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau has all the sophistication of an early French Renaissance chateau.
Described by Balzac at a lunch party as “a faceted diamond set in the Indre”, Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most famous chateaux of the Loire. The present-day English garden was designed and built in the 19th century. The water mirror to the west was dug during the same period. It was not until 1959 that the French State stabilised the course of the Indre at the foot of the south façade, thereby creating a second water mirror.
Further information:
National Monuments Department: Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau Official Website |