The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is built on a small island in the Indre river, and the reflection of its towers and dormers in the surrounding moat gives it an almost dreamlike quality. Constructed between 1518 and 1527, it is one of the finest examples of early French Renaissance architecture in the Loire Valley — less grandiose than Chambord, more intimate than Chenonceau, and arguably more beautiful than either.
The interior holds a well-curated collection of Renaissance and 17th-century furniture, tapestries, and portraits. The coffered ceilings and the monumental staircase are architectural highlights. Plan for at least 90 minutes if you want to see the rooms properly and walk the grounds. In summer, an after-dark son et lumière show projects light and sound onto the chateau's exterior — tickets must be booked in advance and it runs for most of July and August.