A masterpiece of the French Renaissance in the heart of the Loire Valley, the castle of Azay-le-Rideau is an emblematic monument of the 16th century sponsored by Gilles Berthelot, treasurer of François I. In a refinement rarely equaled and confirmed over the centuries, this influential man and his wife, Philippe Lesbahy, built a building of great modernity for the time on the foundations of an old medieval construction. Azay-le-Rideau is a castle whose history has been written through successive owners and which today shines as one of the must-sees of the Loire Valley.
The elegant main building of this monument is a subtle alliance of French traditions and antique-inspired decorations from Italy, giving this building its unique character. The exceptional main staircase, integrated into the castle but open to the outside, is a true masterpiece whose finesse and elegance still fascinate today. Its high ornamental facade and coffered ceilings place it among the most beautiful staircases in France. When it was built in the 16th century, this straight staircase, known as “ramp-sur-ramp”, is a unique model which undoubtedly made the treasurer of François I proud. But despite his incredible rise, Gilles Berthelot is forced to leave his field after his numerous financial embezzlements come to light. He still leaves to posterity a superb castle whose interior was decorated at the beginning of the 17th century by Antoinette Raffin, lady-in-waiting to Queen Margot.
Château Azay-le-Rideau keeps the memory of another family who bought the property in 1791: the Biencourts. The Marquis Charles de Biencourt takes the greatest care in highlighting his castle by surrounding it with a marvelous landscaped setting, a park restored in 2014. The interior design also dates from this period, starting with the rich living room with furniture worthy of the greatest aristocratic residences of the 19th century. A visit to the Azay-le-Rideau castle allows you to follow in the footsteps of this family by visiting superbly furnished rooms: living room, billiard room, utility room, kitchen, dining room and library lounge.
The Biencourts remained owners of the Azay-le-Rideau castle until 1905, when it was sold to the State. From 2014 to 2017, it underwent an incredible restoration which restored the place to all its splendor. This jewel of the Loire Valley, in addition to its superb interior decorations, offers an incredible journey through history. Visiting it soothes the mind, particularly through the walk in the paths of the park which allows you to appreciate the view of this “faceted cut diamond set by the Indre” as Honoré de Balzac described it.
Translated by Google •
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