Ussé Castle – This fabulous castle inspired Charles Perrault to write the fairy tale of "Sleeping Beauty in the Woods" back in 1697. Although the castle of Ussé in Indre-et-Loire was built in the 15th century, its history goes back much earlier, as evidenced by the fortified towers. It has since been embellished over the centuries, and today represents a very beautiful building where the white stones of the Renaissance facade blend perfectly with the late 17th-century classical-style pavilion. Wander through the different rooms of the castle, all decorated with tapestries, carved wooden artifacts, paintings and 18th-century furniture. At the entrance to the castle, look up and admire the sumptuous 17th-century trompe l’oeil ceiling. Several personalities of the time contributed to the embellishment of the chateau. Mansart created the grand staircase leading to the king’s bedroom, which also welcomed Louis XIV. Le Nôtre designed the French-style gardens where centuries-old orange trees and cedars of Lebanon remained, brought back by Chateaubriand in 1817. As for the terraces, they were laid out by Vauban.
