Looking back on a trip to one of our favorite spots in France, the Loire Valley, and a castle that was truly inspiring.
As far as castles go, Chateau D'Usse is about as fairytale as they come and I mean that literally. The castle served as inspiration to a famous author by the name of Charles Perrault, the man who wrote one of the most well known fairytales in our history - Sleeping Beauty.
The tall peaked towers and the flamboyant style of architecture really bring to mind things like princesses, evil stepmothers, fairies and even dragons.
As mentioned previously, the castle is located in the Loire Valley region of France, nd area along the Loire River that is known for its gardens and many chateaus. It dates back to the middle ages and was originally built as a defensive stronghold on the border of the Chinon forest.
Over time the castle eventually went to ruins but was later purchased in the 1400's. It was renovated over the ages until it became what you see today, a true gem of the valley.
Later on in its history the castle became a lavish residential home. That was in the 17th and 18th century.
The castles design is a mix of a flamboyant Gothic with a few slightly more modern Renaissance motifs thrown in here and there. Together they give it a unique look that is unlike any other castle in the region.
On the grounds there is a small chapel church, a stable and a large well tailored garden complete with orange trees and even a kiwis vine growing on a trellis. I didn't realize that kiwis grew on vines until seeing them in the garden.
Last spring when we visited the castle, the day was overcast and gloomy, but the garden provided a nice pop of color gainst the grey sky backdrop.
Next we'll head inside to take a look at some of the castles interior.
I didn't take many photos of the inside but I did manage to snap off a few of some of the minor details, like the tree above and a table set up in the kitchen.
I don't know why but I really liked this wall of antlers in the hunting room and these barrels in the cellar.
One thing thats not all that common to see in the castles in France is the attic. However, at Chateau D'Usse the tour continues up into the attic where a few items are staged to give you an idea of how it might have been used in the past. That was a neat little feature of the chateau.
In the older tower many of the rooms were outfitted with furniture and manakins dressed in old period clothes. They tell a condensed version of the story Sleeping Beauty from start to finish. I didn't take any photos though because it was a bit tacky to be honest.
Instead I'll give you a photo of my wife peaking her head out of one of the towers while wearing her covid face mask. She is another type of beauty.
A few more shots of the outside of the castle to wrap things up.
One last look back through the trees on our way out.
Beautiful pictures, as always. But never in a million years will I get used to that effing Covid flap rag! Nice eyes though, even at a distance. Say "hi" from me.
Haha yeah they are a challenge for sure. We have to wear them all day at work so I'm used to it. It is a relief taking it off at the end of the day though and for lunch.
The castle is so detailed, wow! Just looks like it needs a bit of TLC on the inside.
Love how you included a comment about your wife! And the garden... it outshines the castle for me! Spectacular! Would love to see kiwis growing tbh.
Thanks I'm glad you liked it. I agree that the garden is something special. Its funny how something as simple as kiwis can be so interesting.
Stunning photographs! Loire Valley is indeed a wonderland for chateaux lovers. It's cool to know that this castle sparked the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty. The lifestyle setup of bread and kitchen utensils is always fascinating to see in the interior of the castles.
Yes the kitchens are often the best part of the castles. They decorate them nicely in the Loire Valley especially. None compare to chateau Chennonceux but this one was still quite nice.
Castles are typically captivating to the human experience. At least for me, it is. No wonder these enchanting buildings sometimes are part of fairy tales, folklore, and fantasy films. The clever combination of the flamboyant Gothic architectural style with modern Renaissance elements is simply gorgeous!
Castles are a great place to let your imagination wander. Probably even more so in the past when there wasn't TV or fast entertainment.
The French certainly know how to grow their gardens, they always look so beautiful. As to the castle, the structure certainly looks very enchanting, though I can't help feeling it looks a bit dated in some of your close up shots. Nevertheless, a stunning castle.
Yes they certainly do a great job with the gardens. The weather didn't help with the photos. That could explain the dated look. Though the castle is over 600 years old and has hundreds of years of renovations so the upkeep is probably quite difficult. Some areas were probably less maintained then others.
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Wonderful palace
Thanks!
Very Lovely Place