Stroll around Azay-le-Rideau

It is really not easy to find a parking space in the village, let alone a free one. I therefore start this walk from the Château car park, which is a pay-and-display car park. To access this car park, see § Practical information. Start the walk at around 4 pm.

(S/E) Return to the small roundabout at the beginning of the street leading to the car parks (junction of Rue de Pineau / Rue du Stade / Rue Georges Jehan) and turn left into the street marked 30 km/h, priority to pedestrians (Rue de Pineau). Ignore the street on the left that leads back to the car parks, then ignore the entrance to the château (which is not always open) on the left. Arrive at Place de la République and turn left (Rue du Château) to walk along the square on your right.

(1) Turn onto the first street on the left, at the corner of the post office, then follow Rue Victor Hugo to the right. You will come to Rue Nationale and follow it to the left. Go straight ahead, continue over the bridge over the Indre to reach the island.

(2) At the entrance to the island's park on the right, continue straight ahead for a short return trip to the next bridge, passing in front of the back of the small chapel that is part of the castle park on the left. Retrace your steps.

(2) Turn left towards the park car park (flea market every^5th Sunday of the month), press right and follow the path. At the end, take the footbridge, then go up the car park and arrive at Avenue Adélaïde Riche. Turn right, then at the crossroads, turn right onto Rue de l'Abreuvoir and arrive at the mill.

Enter the site on the right and go around the mill on the right to get closer to the Indre river and enjoy a beautiful view. Exit and turn right to follow Rue du Moulin to Rue Nationale. Walk a few metres to the left, then turn right to cross the square with the octagonal fountain, keeping slightly to the left, then continue straight on Rue Rabelais until you reach Saint-Symphorien Church. The church is usually open to visitors.

(3) Leaving the church, turn right (still on Rue Rabelais) and, at the T-junction, turn right onto Rue Gambetta. You will come to Rue Balzac and turn right towards the entrance to the castle grounds. It is ideally 5 p.m. and access is free.

(4) In the park, go straight towards the château, cross a bridge to reach the courtyard, then turn left and cross another bridge. At the end of the bridge, turn right and walk along the lake, skirting around the château. Cross two footbridges, then turn left in front of the bridge over the Indre. Return in a semicircle to the second footbridge, noting the chapel on the right, the rear of which overlooks the bridge. Cross the two footbridges again, then turn right to approach the edge of the small branch of the Indre.

(5) Take the footbridge over this small branch to cross to the left bank of the Indre and follow the circular path that goes through the undergrowth in this generally quieter part of the park. At the end of the circular path, cross back over the footbridge.

(5) Turn right and follow the path that stays close to the Indre river branch, then turn left to reach the bridge over the lake. You will find yourself in the castle courtyard. Take the bridge on the right, then the path to exit the park.

(4) Take Rue Balzac and follow it straight ahead until you reach Place de la République.

(1) Take the same route back to the Château car park (S/E).

To reach the car park at the start, arriving via the D751, at the roundabout leading to the supermarket, north-east of the village, take the exit signposted Camping, Parking du château (do not take the Le château exit). Follow this street (Rue Georges Jehan) to the next roundabout (ignore Rue Chemin Jeanne d'Arc on the left), continue straight ahead on the same street, pass the cemetery on your right (a few free parking spaces) and then, at the small roundabout, go straight ahead (Rue du Stade, the campsite is at the end). The first car park is on the right, there are others further on. There are free car parks along the route, if you are lucky, but driving in this small village is not easy.

Very easy hike/walk, no special equipment required.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

With its magnificent château, lively tourist village, beautiful old tuffeau stone houses and banks of the Indre river, Azay-le-Rideau is a must-see if you are visiting Touraine.

The park itself is not as interesting as those of other châteaux in the region (Chenonceaux, Ussé, not to mention Villandry), but it provides a beautiful setting for the château.

Île flea market, every fifth Sunday of the month (Chinon on the^third Sunday, Tours on the^fourth Sunday, Montsoreau on the^second Sunday, Angers on the^first Sunday)

Castle tours, all practical information via this link.