View source for Azay-le-Rideau

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Azay-le-Rideau
|commune status     = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image              = Loire Indre Azay2 tango7174.jpg
|caption            = 
|image coat of arms = Blason de la ville d'Azay-le-Rideau (37).svg
|arrondissement     = Tours
|canton             = Chinon
|intercommunality   = [[Communauté de communes Touraine Vallée de l'Indre|CC Touraine Vallée Indre]]
|mayor              = Sylvia Gaurier<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|coordinates        = {{coord|47.2622|0.4669|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        = 45
|elevation min m    = 36
|elevation max m    = 102
|area km2           = 27.34
|population         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|INSEE              = 37014
|postal code        = 37190
}}

'''Azay-le-Rideau''' ({{IPA|fr|azɛ lə ʁido|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-GrandCelinien-Azay-le-Rideau.wav}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Indre-et-Loire]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Centre-Val de Loire]] [[Regions of France|region]] in central-west [[France]].

==Château==
{{main|Château of Azay-le-Rideau}}
[[File:Chateau-Azay-le-Rudeau-1.jpg|thumb|left|The Château]]
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 river [[Indre (river)|Indre]], its foundations rise straight out of the water. It is one of the best known of the [[châteaux of the Loire valley]].<ref>[http://www.eurochannel.com/en/Loire-Valley-Chateaux-Jacques-Vichet-France.html Presentation of the Chateaux of the Loire Valley on Eurochannel]</ref>

==Church==
[[Image:AzayLeRideauStSymphorienFacadeInset.JPG|thumb|left|Carolingian portion of the façade of St. Symphorien]]
There is a church dedicated to [[Saint Symphorian|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 9th century façade in the [[Carolingian architecture|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 architecture|Romanesque style]].<ref>[http://loire.valley.free.fr/fr/pays_de_chinon/azay_le_rideau.htm loire.valley.free.fr Azay le Rideau]</ref> It was built between 1518 and 1527.

==Wine==
Azay-le-Rideau is the centre of the [[Touraine Azay-le-Rideau AOC]] for [[white wine|white]] and [[Rosé|rosé wine]].

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-37014#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |2755
|1975 |2749
|1982 |2915
|1990 |3053
|1999 |3100
|2007 |3408
|2012 |3431
|2017 |3491
}}

==Twin towns==
Azay-le-Rideau is twinned with [[Croston]] in [[Lancashire]], [[England]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lancashirelife.co.uk/out-about/places/croston_39_s_success_is_down_to_the_growing_support_of_the_local_community_1_1567920|title=Croston's success is down to the growing support of the local community|first=Emma|last=Mayoh|website=Lancashire Life|publisher=Archant Community Media|date=9 January 2012|access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>

{{clear left}}

==In popular culture==
The exterior design of the château d'Azay-le-Rideau's main building (as well as its surrounding area, for the most part) was used by [[Konami]] video game developing company as the prime inspiration and a direct structural base of the "Villa" location in the video games ''[[Castlevania 64]]'' (appears during "Stage 03" of the game) and ''[[Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness]]'' (appears during "Stage 04" of the game), both of which were released for [[Nintendo 64]] home TV video gaming platform during January and November 1999 respectively.

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Azay-le-Rideau}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070818221458/http://azay-le-rideau.monuments-nationaux.fr/fr/ Centre des Monuments Nationaux]
*[http://www.tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/azay-le-rideau.htm Office de Tourisme]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070912070204/http://www.ot-paysazaylerideau.com/anglais/tourisme/p-tourisme.htm Pays d'Azay Le Rideau]
*[http://www.vinsdazaylerideau.com Vins d'Azay-le-Rideau]
*[http://www.photos-passion.be/azay/index.html Photos of the chateau]

{{Loire Valley communes}}
{{Indre-et-Loire communes}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azaylerideau}}
[[Category:Monuments historiques of Indre-et-Loire]]
[[Category:Communes of Indre-et-Loire]]
[[Category:Touraine]]