Château d'Azay-le-Rideau hosts Calder from 15 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 00:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau hosts the Calder in the heart of France exhibition from 15 October 2026 in Azay-le-Rideau, France. The presentation places Alexander Calder’s monumental sculpture Reims Croix du Sud in the château’s landscaped park. The exhibition runs until 25 April 2027.
Calder exhibition opens at the château on 15 October
The Centre des monuments nationaux and Centre Pompidou are presenting the work as part of the AR(t]CHIPEL 2026 festival. The official programme describes a regional project spread across fifteen cultural venues, historic monuments, museums and art centres.
Reims Croix du Sud stands in the park from 15 October 2026 to 25 April 2027. The work is attributed to Alexander Calder and is presented in dialogue with the château’s Renaissance architecture and landscaped setting, according to the official exhibition programme.
A Renaissance château meets Calder’s moving forms
The sculpture is seven metres high and combines the solid structure of a stabile with the elevated movement associated with a mobile. Its black, red and blue elements are designed for an outdoor setting, making the park part of the exhibition rather than simply an approach to the building.
The château was built under Francis I by Gilles Berthelot, the king’s financier, during the early sixteenth century. Its architecture combines French traditions with Italian decoration, while the form seen today also reflects nineteenth-century work by the Marquis de Biencourt. The building and its park were later acquired by the French State in 1905 and are now managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux, as the castle’s history page records.
The placement creates a specific link between a sixteenth-century Loire Valley residence and a twentieth-century sculpture associated with movement. Calder first came to France 100 years before the 2026 presentation, and later maintained a home and studio at Saché, near Azay-le-Rideau.
Reims Croix du Sud joins a wider AR(t]CHIPEL programme
The regional festival brings Calder’s work into contact with landscapes, towns and historic buildings across Centre-Val de Loire. A festival programme for Indre-et-Loire also identifies the Azay-le-Rideau installation and describes its relationship with the château’s Renaissance architecture.
The exhibition therefore changes the visitor’s focus without changing the historic building itself. Inside, the château remains the principal architectural attraction; outside, the park provides the setting for Calder’s large-scale work through 25 April 2027.
Visiting Château d'Azay-le-Rideau: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Calder exhibition is at Château d'Azay-le-Rideau from 15 October 2026 to 25 April 2027, with Reims Croix du Sud displayed in the landscaped park.
- The sculpture is presented in the park and is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The exhibition is included within the monument visit, but no separate admission arrangement is stated on the exhibition page.
- The address is 19 rue Balzac, 37190 Azay-le-Rideau. The town is served by the SNCF Tours-Chinon line, and the station is accessible on foot from the monument.
- The site combines historic interiors with a landscaped outdoor park, so the Calder presentation involves moving between the château and its grounds.
- The official language is French and the national currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
When does the Calder exhibition take place at Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
The exhibition runs from 15 October 2026 to 25 April 2027. Reims Croix du Sud is displayed in the landscaped park.
What is Château d'Azay-le-Rideau?
It is a Renaissance château built under Francis I by Gilles Berthelot and later reshaped in the nineteenth century. The French State acquired it in 1905.
Where is Château d'Azay-le-Rideau and how do you get there?
The château is at 19 rue Balzac in Azay-le-Rideau, France. The town is served by the SNCF Tours-Chinon line, with the station accessible on foot.
