아제 르 리도 최고의 사이클링 경로

마을의 아름다운 전망

The absolute highlight for me was the park! The way you can "hide" vegetables in the beautiful flowerbeds was unique. Afterwards, a little siesta in the provided lounge chairs, shaded by large old trees, was priceless.

History in brief Antiquity: the site is strategically located on a promontory and has been inhabited for 3,000 years. It was not fortified until the end of the Roman Empire. Middle Ages: in 1154, the new King of England, Henry II Plantagenet, became ruler of an empire stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees and made Chinon his continental capital. He had a large palace built next to the fortress, which has now disappeared. In 1189, abandoned by his sons, Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, and fleeing from the King of France, he eventually died there. Philippe Auguste had the defensive Tour du Coudray built there after the siege of 1205. Renaissance: in 1454, the fortress became the main residence of Queen Marie d'Anjou, who lived there without her husband. She spent lavishly on decorating the house to her taste. From the 16th century onwards, the fortress was gradually abandoned and fell into disrepair. Despite the dangerous nature of the terrain, it became a public promenade in 1824 and was listed as a monument in 1840. The restoration of the estate began in 1854 thanks to the efforts of the writer Prosper Mérimée. Source: https://loirelovers.fr/en/visit-royal-fort-chinon/

Tough calf biter. Here you know why there are gears on your bike.

Beautiful view of the castle and its gardens. Repair stop, I think, for the bikes.

Situated on the banks of the Indre, from the bridge you have a beautiful view of the site and the beautiful 16th century mill.

The origins of the castle Do you know the story of this castle that stands on a small island in the Indre? Built during the reign of Francis I by Gilles Berthelot, the king's financier, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is a subtle combination of French traditions and innovative Italian decorations. It became an icon of the new architecture in the Loire Valley in the 16th century and is today considered one of the jewels of the architecture of the first French Renaissance. More information on https://www.azay-le-rideau.fr/decouvrir/histoire-du-chateau

A small bridge over the river always invites you to slow down for a moment. Enjoy the current and life on and around the water.