Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Azay-le-Rideau
Plan your visit
Castles of Azay-le-Rideau and Troglodyte Valley
4 attractions · 6h 37min · transit route
Tickets ~€44
Step-by-step route with transport options and cost breakdown
About Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Built between 1518 and 1527 on an island in the Indre River, this Loire Valley château combines late Gothic French architecture with early Italian Renaissance decoration. Treasurer-General Gilles Berthelot commissioned the project, though his wife Philippe Lesbahy directed most of the construction before Berthelot fled France amid a royal financial scandal. Only two of the planned four wings were ever completed, giving the building its distinctive L-shape.
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau — Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
Castle and Park Visit
RecommendedFull access to the château interior and landscaped park. April-September: 16€, October-March: 13€. Audioguide available for 3€ (French, English, German, Italian, Spanish). Free guided tours available on-site, approximately 45 minutes. Last entry 1 hour before closing.
Park Only
Access to the landscaped park and grounds only, without château interior. Available from 1 hour before closing time.
In day plans, the recommended ticket is pre-selected and included in the total price.
Combine with 3 nearby attractions for a full day
From €44 / person — all tickets and transport included — transit route with total cost breakdown
The entire château rests on wooden piles driven into the mud of the Indre riverbed. Because the island site was waterlogged, builders had to create a stable foundation using hundreds of oak pilings — a technique more commonly associated with Venice. These 500-year-old wooden supports are still holding up the structure today.
Travel Plans for Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
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- Step-by-step walking route through the city
- Transport options with travel times and fares
- Entrance fees and opening hours for every stop
- Total cost calculated based on your preferences
Day Routes
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Castles of Azay-le-Rideau and Troglodyte Valley
Azay-le-Rideau
Azay-le-Rideau: Two Castles and a Mechanical Museum
Azay-le-Rideau
Two Castles of Azay-le-Rideau
Azay-le-Rideau
Nearby Attractions
Troglodyte Valley of the Goupillières
Château de Villandry
Troglodyte Valley of the Goupillières