Loire Valley: Château d’Azay-le-Rideau France: What to Expect on your visit?

 The Gilded Age remains a fascination for a lot of historians, enthusiasts and people who love beautiful things. One of the places in France that was able to make it as a UNESCO’s world heritage is the Loire Valley.

Loire Valley is a fascinating place, with Renaissance châteaux, astonishing and remarkable gardens, fortresses that kings, famous artists and authors enjoyed during their time on earth.

Until this very day, there are still a lot of people who fall into the magical world of Loire and decide to take residence on its banks. Just imagine seeing a local stone and slate in your area being reflected in the water by the river. During the afternoons you can either walk on foot, ride a bicycle or drive by, while seeing magnificent landscapes that truly refreshes your mind and heart. Loire Valley is what they would call as the unspoiled part of the world.

The Loire Valley enjoys the presence of delicious wines, scenic spots where tables can be set up for local restaurants and a gourmet village market. Tourists and local residents alike get to enjoy the most beautiful and dramatic panorama over the royal river. When in Loire Valley, you will surely lose yourself for a moment. Tour the most beautiful gothic cathedrals and France and enjoy classical music for as long as you like due to the presence of Renaissance Music Festivals.

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

One of the most beautiful gilded castle and mansion in Loire Valley is Azay-le-Rideau, it was built in the 1500s, it sits like a beautiful swan in a man made lagoon. It survived the Franco-Prussian war, it was then inhabited and decorated by the Biencourt family. The Chateau was built between 1518 to 1527, it is considered to have the features of the French renaissance architecture. It is found in the island in the middle of Indre river.

This Chateau had a long history and was owned by different families for a period of time. In the 19th century, The Raffins who currently owned the property sold the Chateau to Charles de Biencort, field marshal of the king’s armies. It was in such a poor condition but thanks to the wonderful work and execution that was undertaken by the Biencourt, the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau was again came back to life. In 1824, the owners added a special room called the Chinese Room, but it was destroyed during the 1860’s. They also added in library carved with wood panelling to match the existing drawing rooms.

Their son Armand-Francois-Marie, a guard of Louis XVI was the one who did an extensive restoration of the chateau. This included the restoration of medallions and royal insignias on the staircase. With the help of Swiss Architect Pierre Charles Dusillon the courtyards looked immaculate again. The Chateau survived an attempt for a second burning during the Franco-Prussian war but most of its original contents were stolen as it was ransacked.

In the 20th century, it was finally sold and became a part of the French state for 250,000 francs and was listed as a Historical Monument. During its early years it was used as the home of the Education Ministry during World War II.

What Visitors Can Expect?

Should you be fortunate enough to visit the Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau in France, here is what you can expect.

Visitors are allowed to enter, there is a 30-minute guided tour about the history of the place along with the facades and a trip to the central stairway. The rooms of the castles have fine renaissance chimneys and the place contains 16th, 17th and 19th century furnitures. Guests can expect to see a vast collection of portraits of historical characters inside. Only cameras without flash are allowed to be used inside. If you are lucky enough and there is a festival happening in the area, expect a light show. Event coordinators usually put projectors on to the castle at night. It is best to tour the Chateau in May since there will be less visitors.

Also make sure that you do not miss the Secret Garden by the entrance, you can see Cedars of Lebanon, redwoods plus exotic imports.There are a variety of rare flowers and plants in there. It will take about 4 hours to stroll the area, with lots of peaceful moments amongst the lush greenery and foliage.

This is a beautiful chateau in a lovely setting. It is smaller compared with others like Chenonceaux or Chambord but it is still definitely worth the visit. For one, it is not boring and has a spectacular, dreamy angle. Guests can visit two floors, and each one features two different time periods. The French Renaissance and the 19th century. It is the only Chateau in the area where you can access the attic and see the roof construction. It also comes with two contemporary artists with installations that mirror Renaissance entertainments. It is very well worth the effort to come and visit.

During your visit expect to hear them play Renaissance period music while you are inside the rooms. This will give you a feel for the old period. Make sure to explore the Grand Salle, see the sample dishes of fruits, poultry and vegetables. From time to time they also feature period costumes inside the area as well as various mirror and lights spinning as well as clockwork gadgets.