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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Chatonnière, located in Azay-le-Rideau (Indre-et-Loire), dates back to the 14th century for its foundations (angle towers and outbuildings) and was rebuilt in the late 16th century. Its square plan, surrounded by seven towers, reflects a medieval defensive architecture redesigned during the Renaissance. The remains of the bases of the four corner towers and a polygonal staircase tower testify to this architectural evolution over three centuries.

The 13 gardens of the Chatonnière, created between 1995 and 2009 by Béatrice Gonzalez de Andia y Elio, heiress of the Duke of Dino, transform the valley into an initiatory journey combining geometry and poetry. Each garden, set in terraces, symbolizes a virtue or concept (Elegance, Abundance, Intelligence, etc.), mixing vegetable plants, roses, mazes and historical references. The Jardin de la France, wild and flowery with poppies, pays homage to the Touraine, while elements such as the ice-cream trees or the braided wicker cloisters evoke the Middle Ages.

The castle, classified as Historical Monument in 1976 (façades, roofs, towers, chapel and fireplace), was restored under the impulse of Beatrice Gonzalez de Andia, the grand niece of the last Duke of Talleyrand. His work is part of a broader heritage approach, including the rescue of Biron Castle (Dordogne) in 1981. The gardens, maintained by Ahmed Azeroual (former gardener of Villandry), interact with architecture through scholarly perspectives and symbols, such as the Viking-inspired maze or the multicolored roses of the Romance Garden.

The ensemble, a private property open to the public, illustrates the renaissance of French-style gardens revisited by a contemporary approach. Local materials (tuffeau, wicker) and traditional techniques (living trellis, pergolas) highlight the link between the monument and its territory. The Chatonnière thus embodies a synthesis between medieval heritage, classical elegance and modern landscape creativity.

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