This chateau has a great interior with great antiques and picturesque exterior for great photos. The only tricky part is finding parking for it is in the middle of a small village with tight streets. I would place it up there with Chambord and Chenonceau as a must see.
Nice castle sitting on water. Unfortunately, works on the garden limit the access and the castle is barely furnished. But the aquatic landscape and refined roofwork are worth the visit. 6.50 euro entree, kids free.
The Château d’Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most popular castles of the Loire valley, mostly for its look, seemingly floating on its body of water. The castle is also a private property, built by an uprising, wealthy financial advisor to the Court. Once inside, the visit of the castle is interesting, as the property remains well appointed in furniture and décor. Highly recommended, you will not be disappointed.
Azay-le-Rideau is beautiful. While Worth the visit.Loved the way the castle looks when you walk down the alley.The guided tour is included in the ticket price, I recommend you take it!
Lovely drive around the region and the town. Chateau much smaller and not as impressive as others in the area. Relaxing to wander around the property.
I was really looking forward to visiting Azay-le-Rideau based on all the reviews I read but I have to say that I was a little bit disappointed. It is beautiful on the outside but the inside had very few furnished rooms. I personally would not return again.
A beautiful place special in the end of the day. Inside it is a little bit empty. Small if we compare with the others.
With the exception of the open straight central staircase (an innovation for the time), the inside is small and not especially noteworthy compared to other chateaux. Also the attic with the traditional wood framing is impressive. The battlements and pepper-pot roofs are excellent, along with the engineering that diverted the river into a moat. A good introduction to the Loire's chateaux, with gorgeous photos from any angle. The grounds are small.
We visited this in a delightfully crisp morning and although we were in awe at the amazing setting with the Château suspended in water the scaffolding encompassing almost the entire facade did spoil the grandeur. The renovations are set to go on for the next 2.5 years and while it is essential work it will spoil the visit for some - as a result the entry fee is reduced to €6 only. Audioguides recommended for more details and be careful not to miss some of the inside as the directions for the self tour are very poor and muddled. The interior is average and our main reason for visiting was to view the outside setting so be prepared for scaffolding if this is your aim also.
The renovation works at the time of our visit were nearing completion and most of the building is fully accessible. It is a beautiful structure full of history. The timber vaulted roof structure is a masterpiece and a "must see".