Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is the most exquisite example of French Renaissance architecture in the valley, its construction costing 80,000 livres in the 16th century—equivalent to €2.3 million today. Perched on a 1.5-hectare island in the Indre River, its water-mirror reflections create a visual impact that surpasses even the more massive Château de Cheverny (rank 5) in sheer elegance. Visitors can tour 25 lavishly decorated rooms, including a grand salon with a 16th-century fireplace.