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Azay-le-Rideau |
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| Château d'Azay-le-Rideau | |
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Azay-le-Rideau
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Centre |
| Department | Indre-et-Loire |
| Arrondissement | Chinon |
| Canton | Azay-le-Rideau |
| Mayor | Michel Verdier (2008–2014) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 36–102 m (118–335 ft) (avg. 45 m/148 ft) |
| Land area1 | 27.34 km2 (10.56 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 3,337 (2006) |
| - Density | 122 /km2 (320 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 37014/ 37190 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Azay-le-Rideau (pronounced: [azɛ lə ʁido]) is a commune of the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.
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The château of Azay-le-Rideau was built from 1515 to 1527, one of the earliest French Renaissance châteaux. Built on an island in the Indre River, its foundations rise straight out of the water.
There is a church dedicated to Saint Symphorien near the château that is interesting for the number of architectural periods incorporated in its design. While the newest portion dates from 1603, the current façade incorporates an older ninth century façade in the Carolingian style. The original carved figures are still visible, though an added window destroyed part of the second row. The rest of the church is of a Romanesque style.[1]
Azay-le-Rideau is the center of the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau AOC for white and rose wine.