CHATEAU D'AZAY-LE-FERRON

The castle of AZAY-le-FERRON looks like a typical example of the beautiful Loire castles. AZAY-le-FERRON belongs to the Barony de Preuilly on Claise, and was located in the province of Touraine. Today it is located at the edge of Brenne.

The castle consists of four parts built at various times: the tower Frotier (end of 15th century), the wing of Humières (middle of 17th century), the house of François I (16th century), and the Breteuil house (18th century). The common areas, known as the Cingé wing, are from the 17th century. They are connected to the castle by a gallery inspired by that of the castle of Valençay and built in 1926.

Several great families were owners of AZAY-le-FERRON, in particular Gregoire Michel, banker for Napoleon’s armies. In the 19th century the castle was sold in life annuity to the Luzarche family, a family of master blacksmiths. In 1950, Mrs. Hersent, daughter of Mrs. Luzarche, bequeathed the castle and the grounds to the town of Tours.

Mr. Luzarche had a hunting crew whose motto was “Go all the way.” A stuffed wolf called “Cocoa” is in the large staircase. Its history deserves to be told: One day while hunting wolves, Mr. Luzarche’s group caught a she-wolf that had just given birth. One of the offspring was captured and tamed and soon learned to hunt with the pack of dogs. At 12 years old, it became blind and drowned in one of the pools of the castle’s park. In remembrance, it was stuffed.