Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau is located in the town of Azay-le-Rideau in the French department of Indre-et-Loire.  The current castle was built between 1518 and 1528 and is considered a prime example of early French renaissance architecture, although it retains some medieval characteristics.  The medieval qualities are seen in the moat, corner towers, and the external sentry walk.  The castle is set on an island in the middle of the Indre River and occupies the site of the former feudal castle, which fell victim to the Hundred Years’ War.  The fortress lay in ruins until 1518, when Gilles Berthelot acquired the property.  Berthelot was a financier and the major of Tours in service of Francis I.  Berthelot reconstructed the castle to represent his wealth and status, including a grand entranceway and an ornate staircase inspired by Italian architecture.  Unfortunately, Berthelot never moved into his home and when suspected of embezzlement he fled the country.  The castle was confiscated in 1526 by Francis I and given to the king’s Captain of the Guard, Antoine Raffin. In 1840, the castle was listed as a historical monument and in 1905 it was purchased by the French state.  The fortress is open to the public.