Château d'Azay-le-Ferron

The Château d'Azay-le-Ferron is a 15th-century castle and 17th-century manor located in the commune of Azay-le-Ferron in the Indre département of France. It features a garden à la française and a French landscape garden dating to the 17th century, redone in the 19th and 20th century. The interior is richly furnished. The château is owned by the city of Tours and is open to the public. Château d'Azay-le-Ferron is situated at an altitude of 111 meters.

The castle is classified as a Monument historique since 1950

The first château was constructed by Prégent Frotier in the late 15th century, on land which had belonged to Nicolas Turpin de Crissé in the 13th century, then became part of the barronie of Preuilly in 1412. The tower of the first château, dated 1496, still stands, incorporated into later structures of the 17th century.

In 1560, the chateau passed to the family of Louis I de Cravant, who owned it until the end of the 17th century. The owners included Cesar de Vendôme, son of King Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées, who became Baron of Preuilly by royal decree, and Louis IV de Crevant, a Maréchal in the army of Louis XIV. A residence and a new wing and pavilion were added to the tower in 1638, probably by Louis III de Crevant d'Humieres, and windows were pierced in the old tower to transform the fortress into a residence. This new wing was ornamented with the salamander emblem of King François I, and the ermine emblem of Claude de France.

In 1699, the baronnie Château d'Azay-le-Ferron was purchased by Louis-Nicolas Le Tonnelier de Breteuil. His daughter, Gabrielle-Emilie, was the mistress of Voltaire from 1733 until 1737. The de Breteuil family owned the chateau until 1739, when it was sold to Louis François de Gallifet. The de Bretueil family probably constructed the east wing of the building, which carries their coat of arms.

...
Wikipedia