Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at Tours main station and Caen, then bus from Pontorson; or 8 hours via Paris TGV with
changes at St-Pierre-des-Corps and Paris' Gare Montparnasse, then bus from Rennes),
Bayeux
(9/day, 5-6 hours with change in Tours and Caen, or 7 hours via Tours, St-Pierre-
des-Corps, and Paris' Gare Montparnasse).
About30minuteswestofTours,Azay-le-Rideau(ah-zayluhree-doh)isanendearinglittle
townwithasmallbutlivelypedestrianzoneandachâteauthatgetsalltheattention.Azay-
le-Rideau works well as a base for visiting sights west of Tours by car or bike (but not by
train—the train station is a half-mile walk from the town center). The town is close to the
A-85 autoroute, offering drivers reasonable access to châteaux near Amboise. Travelers
who bed down here will be tempted by the fun sound-and-light show at the château.
Tourist Information:
Azay-le-Rideau's TI is just below Place de la République, a block
to the right of the post office (July-Aug daily 10:00-19:00; Sept-Oct and April-June daily
9:00-13:00&14:00-18:00;Nov-MarchMon-Sat9:00-13:00&14:00-18:00,closedSun;4
Rue du Château, tel. 02 47 45 44 40,
www.visitazaylerideau.com
). The TI sells reduced-
priceticketstoallareachâteaux,hasfreeWi-Fi,andisagoodplacetopickupinformation
on the sound-and-light show. Ask them for bike-rental info, too.
Arrival in Azay-le-Rideau:
It'sabouta25-minute walkfromthestation tothetown
center (taxi mobile 06 60 94 42 00). Walk down from the station, turn left, and follow
Centre-Ville
signs. Drivers can head for the château and park there.
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Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
This charming 16th-century château sparkles on an island in the Indre River, its image ro-
mantically reflected in the slow-moving waters. The building is a prime example of an
early-Renaissance château. With no defensive purpose, it was built simply for luxurious
living in a luxurious setting. The ornamental facade is perfectly harmonious, and the in-
terior—with its grand staircases and elegant loggias—is Italian-inspired.
