 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
  |
|
Azay-le-Rideau got its name from one of its lords who was dubbed knight by King Philip of France and who was the founder of a great fortress. It was on the ruins of the fortress that the magnificent castle was built. In 1418, the Dauphin Charles VII stopped in the village of Azay and was insulted by the garrison of the Duke of Burgundy who was stationed there. To reaffirm his authority and to avenge himself, the heir to the king besieged the fortress, captured 350 Burgundian soldiers and then burnt down the castle and its fortifications. Until the 18th century, the village was known as Azay-le-Brulé ("Azay the Burnt").
The
castle was partially rebuilt at the end of the 15th century and
became the property of Marcelin Berthelot, Master of the Denier
Chamber of Louis XI and Charles VIII. From 1518 to 1527, the Berthelot
family made the castle a Renaissance jewel. Built on the banks
of the river Indre, the Château d'Azay has often been considered
as the rival of Chenonceau which overlooks the river Cher.
After financial ruin, Gilles Berthelot lost the castle which was passed from hand to hand for centuries until the French Republic bought it back in 1905. Azay-le-Rideau
on the net : |
|
Copyright
© 2000 Editions Montparnasse. All rights reserved
|
|
|
France,
the visit: |
