This morning we headed off to the west of Tours to visit another chateau on our "must see" list- Chateau d'Azey-le-Rideau. This elegant 16th century, Renaissance chateau was built on the foundation of a medieval fortress and is the creation of Gilles Berthelot, a wealthy financier of Francis I. Azey is well preserved and nicely furnished. While most of it was built between 1518 and 1527, Francis I accused Gilles of fiddling with the nation's books and confiscated the chateau before it was finished. With a number of different owners after that, the chateau was not completed until the 19th century!
As you approach on this path, It is practically hidden by an allee of trees so you have no idea of what a treat you are in for at the end....
...but you are NOT disappointed!!!
Here is the facade of the chateau...
We had read about the chateau in advance and knew we wanted to take the full tour. The guide books extol it's fine furnishings, tapestries and art work from the 16th-18th centuries. Sadly, but completely understandable, no indoor photography was allowed so we can't show you all the gorgeous things we saw. But it was exquisite! The only photo we took, of the underside of this lovely staircase(looking like a snail!), was just a step before we exited the building...
The grounds surrounding the chateau were also 'magnifique!
Happy tourists enjoying the view...
side view, with reflection in the lake...
rear view...
the lake which surrounds the chateau...
The River Indre upon whose banks the chateau was built...
hey, what do you know....more wisteria... here on an out building now used as the visitors' center!!
One final view of one of this magnificent chateaux, framed by these lovely wispy trees...
We spent a little while in the tiny town of Azey-le-Rideau, looking at more wisteria...
...and then we were off to the airport to pick up Di and Charlie!
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