Château de l'Islette
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de l'Islette, located in Cheillé (Indre-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Cheillé, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.2675, 0.4343
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097649
Nestling in the heart of the Indre valley, Château de l'Islette's cylindrical Renaissance towers and painted joist ceilings are set in intimate greenery, off the beaten tourist track.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
On the banks of the Indre, a few leagues from Azay-le-Rideau, where it shares the same master builders, Château de l'Islette is one of the discreet jewels of the Touraine Renaissance. Less famous than its illustrious neighbours in the Loire Valley, it nonetheless has a sober, authentic elegance that will appeal to heritage lovers in search of emotion unfiltered by the crowds. The building stands out for the coherence of its architecture: two large cylindrical towers flanking the main building, a machicolated parapet walk that still evokes memories of medieval fortresses, and a polygonal staircase tower that embodies the graceful transition to the new forms coming from Italy. Together, they form a rare architectural tableau in which the late Middle Ages converse with the spirit of the nascent Renaissance. Inside, visitors are greeted by a wide spiral staircase carved from golden Touraine stone, whose volutes seem to defy time. The painted joist ceilings and colourful panelling that adorn several of the rooms offer a striking insight into the surprisingly fresh decorative art of the 16th century. The chapel, nestling on the ground floor of the south-east tower, adds an intimate, almost secret dimension to the building. The natural setting makes a major contribution to the unique charm of l'Islette. The mill to the east of the château, the 17th-century park gate flanked by two pavilions and a postern, and the parkland bathed in the soft light of the Indre, create a landscape of absolute serenity. It's here that we can understand why the lords of the Renaissance chose the banks of the river to build their pleasure homes.
Architecture
Château de l'Islette belongs to the early Touraine Renaissance movement, which transformed old medieval fortresses into pleasure residences without abandoning any defensive symbolism. The L-shaped plan, resulting from the grafting of a new main building onto a late Gothic brick and stone structure, creates an asymmetrical composition that is not without charm. The main building is solidly framed by two large cylindrical towers, whose machicolations and parapet walk are the last vestiges of a feudal vocabulary that is now more decorative than functional. In the north-east corner, a polygonal tower housing the spiral staircase adds a touch of refinement and elegantly marks the main entrance. The façades, punctuated by mullioned windows characteristic of the French Renaissance, reveal the care taken in the composition of the openings and their moulded frames. Inside, the white tufa stone spiral staircase is the centrepiece of the vertical layout: its gentle steps and finely worked central core bear witness to the skills of Touraine stonemasons trained on the great royal building sites. The painted joist ceilings and decorated panelling that remain in several rooms are precious evidence of the interior polychromy of the 16th century, all too often lost in the region's châteaux. The chapel on the ground floor of the south-east tower completes the ensemble with its sober intimacy. The entrance gate to the grounds, built in 1638, introduces a classical vocabulary - pilasters, entablatures, square-roofed pavilions - in perfect counterpoint to the Renaissance fantasy of the château itself.
Related Figures
Maison de Maillé — famille noble tourangelle propriétaire du fief depuis 1350, commanditaire du châteauBaron de Maillé (vers 1530) — initiateur du chantier Renaissance, fit appel aux maîtres d'œuvre d'Azay-le-RideauCharles de Maillé — acheva la construction vers 1535 et supervisa les finitions intérieuresGilles Berthelot — maître d'ouvrage d'Azay-le-Rideau, dont les artisans furent partagés avec l'IsletteArtisans tourangeaux (vers 1518-1535) — compagnons tailleurs de pierre formés sur les chantiers royaux de la Loire
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de l'Islette located?
Château de l'Islette is located in Cheillé, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Château de l'Islette built?
Château de l'Islette dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de l'Islette open to visitors?
Château de l'Islette is currently closed to visitors.