Built at the heart of Touraine on an island of the river Indre, the Château of Azay-le- Rideau shows the interest of the powerful financiers of the King François Ier for the architectural innovation coming from Italy during Renaissance.

High roofs, monumental chimneys and staircases, wide openings and decorations of the facades
create an harmonious ensemble with a charm beyond compare. It is considered as a masterpiece of the 16th architecture.

Its romantic park, composed of an arboretum and winding pathways, shows the strong taste of the 19th owners, the Marquis de Biencourt, for the English landscape garden.

The rooms of the chateau, lavishly ornated of royal portraits, tapestries and paintings inspired by
mythology, rare earthenware and ancient furniture demonstrate the refinement of the successive owners.
Listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, the chateau of Azay-le- Rideau benefits from a great restoration program named #AzayRenaissance.