Funny name- seriously awesome chateau. While Neuschwanstein technically was the major inspiration for the Disneyland castle, we’re getting major Sleeping Beauty vibes from this castle and its romantic setting and architecture! We loved this chateau so much it made it onto our list of must-see castles in France and we knew we needed to give it its own article.
Location and other info
37190 Azay-le-Rideau, France
Tel: +33 (0) 2 4745 4204
website
Pronunciation made easy 🙂
Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau (Sha-toe Dah-zay le Ree-dou)
Why You Should Visit
- We weren’t joking about the Sleeping Beauty feel- it’s magical as it’s set on an island surrounded by water
- Each room has been beautifully restored with many objects from former owners and house an incredible collection of national portraits
- There’s an whimsical animatronic art installation with period clothes, music and cute little details throughout a section of the castle marrying modern times with 1500’s aesthetics
- Considered one of the most period correct chateaux, the walls are lined with reeds and tapestries- truly a renaissance gem!
- Multiple gardens on the grounds only enhance the beauty of the chateau as the recreate kitchen gardens, walking paths and even a walled secret garden!
- Located on the edge of a historical shopping area, visiting the local bakeries, cafes, and art galleries is a must! Some of our favorite french castle paintings are from this area!
Quick Attractions & Must See-Must Dos:
- Take your time wandering the ground floor- it’s been redecorated in the style and grandiosity of the Biencourt time with priceless art and furnishings
- Experience the view on the top floor landing overlooking the entrance on the castle and picturesque Azay-le-Rideau town.
- Walk through each of the gardens- the main large garden with the mirror lake and lovely paths. Walk down to the kitchen garden and shhh… don’t forget to see the walled secret garden (one of our favorites)
- Don’t forget to take a few pictures from the mirror lake and opposing sides- they’ll be IG gold!
Brief BUT Interesting History
Located in the charming town of Azay le Rideau, this chateau stands out not only for its beauty but also for its amazing example of life in the castle in renaissance times. Built in the early 16th century around the time of Chenonceau (another favorite) this chateau is also built on a river- Indre-and is also on the list of more popular chateaux to visit in the Loire valley.
Like many castles throughout the world, Chateau d’ Azay le Rideau currently stands where a former castle once stood. Records indicate that there was a castle on this site as early as the 12th century but it was completely lost when burned in the Hundreds Years war, taking over 350 soldiers with it. In fact, the entire town was known until the 19th century as Azay le Brule, which literally translates to Azay the Burnt because of the great loss of architecture and life as a result of that fire. ##ghost story??
The chateau was rebuilt almost 100 years later, mixing the styles of the Italian Renaissance and architectural features reminiscent of its medieval past. This iteration of the castle was designed as more of a residential building unlike its predecessor which was considered more of a strategic feudal fortification. Although this was intended to be more of a place of comfort, local crime and thievery was exaggerated to secure approval from the king so that the chateau could retain some of the old-world grandiose castle design. We’re grateful for these little white lies that allowed for some of the more interesting and beautiful features like the covered walkways in between the two main sections and the turrets that overlook the reflection pond. And speaking of water, remember when we mentioned that it was built on the River Indre? Building in this water way proved so difficult that the castle had to be erected on stilts and this along with many other building issues led to it still being incomplete ten years later when the castle was confiscated and given to Antoine Raffin.
Raffin only endeavored to make minor repairs, finishing the smaller projects and thereby only completing two of the four sides that were originally planned. Today the castle stands in an “L” shape instead of the planned square. Despite the fact that the original plans were never truly realized, the chateau is so lovely that we’re sure you’ll find it hard to believe that it wasn’t intended to be this way all along. It was considered so lovely that many royals and dignitaries stayed at the castle under their ownership.
The first major renovations occurred when almost 200 years later the Raffin family sold the chateau to the Biencourt family. They completed many renovations during their time there and even allowed for the public to view their extensive portrait collection, something which was extremely unusual for the 1790’s. The Biencourts also transformed the french style gardens into more naturalist English-style gardens that were in vogue during that time- a style that the gardens are still rocking to this day.
Unfortunately, the castle fell into Prussian hands during the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71) and was almost burned a second time when a chandelier fell down onto the table where the Prussian King was seated. Thankfully, the chateau was not burned and it was returned over to the Biencourts who unfortunately over time let it slip into disrepair. In 1899, Chateau d’ Azay le Rideau was sold to a lawyer who sold off its contents for profit. Due to his most boorish and philistine behavior we will not name him here- may history forget him.
Saved from further plunder and ruin, the French government purchased the chateau in 1905 and used it as a government administration building during the world wars when government ministries fled Paris.
Today, Chateau d’Azay le Rideau is preserved and protected by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and is part of the Unesco World Heritage Sites of the Loire Valley. These designations ensure that visitors from around the world will be able to enjoy its stunning beauty for years to come. In 2015, the ground floor was restored to the style and luxury of the Biencourts time when many people, both famous and otherwise, would have been able to view it. Recent restorations on the roof, attic and facade were finished in 2017 and Chateau d’Azay le Rideau is sitting in full splendor.
‘Good to Know’ Tips
- Plan for 2-4 hours at this chateau to see the castle, walk the grounds and gardens, and visit the local shops.
- Parking there is plentiful with multiple paved lots. As with all Chateaux, it’s paid so don’t hesitate to pay for more time and then walk the nearby quaint medieval streets that lead up to the castle before you leave!
- The town of Azay-le-Rideau is a little bit larger than many of the towns that surround chateaux in the Loire Valley so there are plenty of places to eat, shop and stay close by
- You’ll enter and exit through the gift shop which focuses more on medieval souvenirs. As always, we recommend doing it a little different*
Gifts & Memorabilia*
Ever find yourself struggling to cram in that book or souvenir from your trip into your already packed suitcase? We recommend buying the book or some cool memorabilia before or after your trip to save you space and have something to look forward to when your trip ends!
Here are a few of our favorite Chateau d’ Azay le Rideau picks!
Books: https://amzn.to/38bc63s
Puzzle: https://etsy.me/2OsCC0Q
Art: https://etsy.me/2NVb3xH