History
article | Reading time3 min
Discover the fascinating history of the castle of Azay-le-Rideau. From the architectural masterpiece of the Renaissance to its revival in the 19th century under the impulse of the Marquis de Biencourt.
A jewel of the Loire Valley
The origins of the castle
Do you know the history of this castle built on a small island of the Indre river?
Built during the reign of Francis I by Gilles Berthelot, the king's financier, the château of Azay-le-Rideau presents a subtle alliance of French traditions and innovative decorations from Italy .
It has become an icon of the new art of building in the Loire Valley in the 16th century, and is today considered one of the jewels of early French Renaissance architecture.
Christian Gluckman - CMN
The 19th century: a new renaissance
Although its two wings were built in the early years of the 16th century, it was in the 19th century that the château took on the form we know today. As such, Azay-le-Rideau should be appreciated both as an architectural gem of the 16th century and as a representative example of 19th century taste for Renaissance art.
It was also during this period that the landscaped park that surrounds it today was conceived as a veritable jewel of greenery.
At the end of the 19th century, the castle passed through several owners before finally being purchased by the State in 1905. It is now managed and open to visitors by the Centre des monuments nationaux.
Léonard de Serres - Centre des monuments nationaux
