History of the Castle :
The castle, which was rebuilt in the end of the XVth century doesn’t have a military role, it’s a residential construction from the Renaissance type. It was begun by Marcelin Berthelot ( Master of the Denier’s House of both Kings Louis XI and Charles VIII ) and completed in 1524 by his son Gilles Berthelot ( Master of Account, Mayor of Tours and one of the treasuries of France).
Gilles Berthelot is untitled as the Lord of Azay, he is wealthy and related to Superintendent of Finances Semblancay, who is more richer. It’s Gilles wife, who Philippe Lesbahy who led the essential part of the building work from 1518 to 1524 with the assistance of Etienne Rousseau, Pierre Maupoint and Jacquet Thoreau for the framework.
In fact Azay is an unfinished castle, in the initial plan it was to form a quadrilateral but the two complementary wings were never built.
The Italian influence is clear in Azay, the turns and machicolations are ornaments and the interior decoration of the monument is very artistic. The ditches are transformed into water level and the park of the castle is a place of walk.
Gilles Berthelot is compromised in the scandal which carries and makes condemn Semblançay, it prefers to flee France and takes refuge in Lorraine, he dies in Cambrai in 1530. He never returned in Azay Le Rideau and its goods were confiscated. He had then several owners, in particular Henri de Beringhem to which one owes the installation and the decoration of the Room of the King. The castle belongs at the French state since 1905.

The interior of the Castle
Practical information