You’re bound to be familiar with Perrault’s fairy tales: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood have filled the dreams of children throughout the ages… Even to the point of being adapted for the big screen, thanks to a certain Walt Disney. Well, did you know that one castle inspired both Charles Perrault and the architects of Disneyland Paris? And it’s just 3 hours from Paris. Here’s the story…
A fairytale castle within easy reach of Paris
It looks like a castle out of a fairy tale, so unreal does it seem. Yet the Château d’Ussé does exist. Perched on tufa cliffs in the Indre department, this jewel of France’s heritage was a source of inspiration for Charles Perrault, who stayed here several times before writing his beloved fairy tales.
The château’s Renaissance-inspired facades, in stark contrast to the 15th-century medieval keep, are awe-inspiring. With its turrets, Gothic spires and immaculate white color typical of the region’s stone, Château d’Ussé is certainly one of the most remarkable castles of its time. No wonder the architects of Disneyland Paris were inspired by its elegant, fairytale-like structure to create Sleeping Beauty’s castle…
A breathtaking garden designed by Le Nôtre
Le Nôtre, the Sun King’s favorite gardener, put his artistic stamp all over France. It’s thanks to him that you can stroll through the estate’s formal gardens. Covering some 10 hectares, they offer spectacular views over the entire valley. With flowers in bloom all year round, they’re sure to delight the eye.
Much more intimate than the gardens at Versailles, the garden’s exceptional panorama of the Chinon forest is incomparable. The green treasure of the region, the writer Charles Perrault loved every corner of it. A magnificent château, approximately 3 hours from Paris, on the banks of the Loire.
📍Location: Château d’ Ussé 37420 Rigny-Ussé
🚘By car: 2 h 30 from Paris on the A10 freeway
🚆By train: 1 hour from Paris, arriving at Tours station