The Streets of Azay-le-Rideau

We visited the chateau of Azay le Rideau nine times last year. This meant that while Susan visited the chateau I had 18 hours to explore the town on my own.

This is good news, because the town has plenty to offer people prepared to get off the well worn trail from the carpark to the chateau gates. The town dates to 1442, the date its current bridge across the Indre river was built. Before that time there was a town on the site, but owing to an insult paid to the Dauphin Charles VII in 1418 by the garrison of the Duke of Burgundy who was stationed there, he besieged the fortress, captured 350 Burgundian soldiers and then burnt down the castle and its fortifications, the town and the bridge.

From the road it appears that there is only one house dating from the time of the rebuild, but I wouldn't be surprised if the bones of many of the houses in town are that old. This building is here.

I have a lot of photos of interesting buidings in Azay and will be posting them here from time to time over the coming few weeks. Next time you're in Azay, spend an hour walking around - it will repay your time.

Simon