At the heart of the Touraine region, le Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (the castle of Azay-le-Rideau) is built on an island in the middle of the Indre River. This jewel of the French Renaissance was built under the reign of King Francis I. Spectacular views of the carved stone facade, reflected in the water, can be enjoyed from the majestic landscaped garden. Surrounded by the Indre River, the castle was built between 1518 and 1523 by Gilles Berthelot, the Mayor of Tours and Treasurer of France under King Francis I, and his wife, Philippa Lesbahy; it is a masterpiece of early French Renaissance. The building forms an ?L? shape following an interruption in construction[]. Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most fascinating castles in the region, described by Balzac as ?a faceted diamond framed by the Indre?. The main dwelling is relatively small and divided into a main building and right-angled wing, square horizontal string courses, which are surrounded by the Indre and woodland. Each corner features a turret.