Visiting the Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau

The fairytale chateau of Azay-le-Rideau sits on an island in the Indre River, right in the middle of one of the loveliest villages in the Touraine Loire Valley. Over the last few years the curators have transformed the interior of the chateau, with the highest quality restoration of the roof spaces (engineers love this section!) and recreating the luxurious bedroom of the woman who built it (textile lovers are in heaven!). The building epitomises the architecture of the early Renaissance in France and it is furnished with a wonderful collection of 16th and 17th century furniture.The ground floor is furnished with pieces from the 19th century, many of which belonged to the last family to own the chateau before it was acquired by the state.

If you would like to visit this small but perfectly formed chateau from the time of the Touraine Loire Valley's most fabulous period in history, email us. We will design a tour for you that includes Azay-le-Rideau.

Visiting the Chateau of Cheverny

The Chateau of Cheverny is one of the big name Touraine Loire Valley chateaux, and one of our favourites. It is special because, unlike other well known chateaux, much of its interior is original and it has retained the decorative scheme from the early 17th century date of its construction, along with furniture and objects collected by the family from that time to our own time. The same family continue to live in the chateau and have done so since it was built, again unlike the other well known chateaux.

If you would like to visit a thoroughly authentic chateau, this is the one we would recommend (and there's a special treat for you here if you are dog lovers). Email us and we will design you an itinerary that includes a visit to the Chateau of Cheverny.

An Intriguing Glimpse

Would you like to get more than just a glimpse of this chateau through the trees? email us and we will create an itinerary that includes visiting its sumptuous interior and magnificent grounds. It has strong links to some of our favourite historical characters and even its more recent past is testament to the fact that this is no ordinary building.