La Conjuration d'Azay

La Conjuration d'Azay: An Immersive Performance in the Heart of the Renaissance

Created for the 500th anniversary of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (1518-2018), the performance La Conjuration d'Azay has become one of the most remarkable summer events in the Loire Valley. Conceived and directed by the Théâtre des Minuits, a traveling theater company based in Touraine, this immersive performance transforms the famous Renaissance château into a living theater where spectators become actors in the story.

The Plot: Thwarting a Plot Against Louis XIII

The action takes place on June 27, 1619. The Marquise Françoise de Lansac, owner of the château, receives the young King Louis XIII. But the captain of the royal guard, alerted by rumors, urgently recruits new guards among the visitors. Supporters of the queen mother Marie de' Medici, who has fallen out of favor, are seeking to harm the sovereign. The spectators, now King's Guards, must tour the château's rooms to identify the conspirators and protect the monarch.

A Theatrical Journey Through the Château

For 1.5 hours, groups of spectators follow the actors of the Théâtre des Minuits through the château's rooms, staircases, corridors, and gardens. Each room becomes a stage where dialogues, confrontations, revelations, and plot twists unfold. The intimacy of the setting, the beauty of the Renaissance architecture, and the actors' performances create total immersion in the 17th century. Costumed volunteers join the professional troupe to animate the scenes.

The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau: A Renaissance Setting

Built between 1518 and 1527 by Gilles Berthelot, treasurer to King Francis I, and his wife Philippe Lesbahy, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is considered one of the purest jewels of French Renaissance architecture. Situated on an island in the Indre River, its reflection in the water and its monumental staircase make it an emblematic monument of the Loire Valley, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. La Conjuration d'Azay offers a unique and lively way to discover this exceptional monument.

Performance Information

The performance is presented from Wednesday to Saturday, from mid-July to the end of August, with evening slots between 7 PM and midnight. Performances in English are offered on certain evenings. Reservations are mandatory due to limited capacity per slot. The performance is suitable for ages 10 and up.