Chateau d'Usse, Rigny-Usse

3.7

#11 of 83 in Historic Sites in Indre-et-Loire

Castle · Tourist Spot

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An astounding array of glistening white sandstone, slate rooftops in blue, and whimsical towers fill your waking dreams as you approach Chateau d'Usse. "Sleeping Beauty" author, Charles Perrault, was so enamored with this castle that it inspired him to write his famous 17th century tale. This castle wasn't built for bloody battles, and it has always managed to evade the bedlam of war. The romantic and playful mood comes from its flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance architecture--authenticity that not even Walt Disney could outdo.

Costumed characters greet you on your tour through themed chambers warmed by the glow of wood-burning fireplaces. Each room is filled with the legend and the history of lavish 19th century fashions, fine bone china and real silverware on the dining room table, and bedchambers whisking you off to fairytale dreams. Be sure to climb the spiral staircases with your kids until you find the wax figure of Sleeping Beauty resting in her tower.

After your tour, stroll the gardens to take in the majestic cedars, the surrounding Chinon Forest, and the majestic views of the chateau from the walkway. Keep a lookout for small, but elusive details, such as intricate carvings on many outdoor installations and entryways. Let your inspiration flow with a fun-filled visit to the castle that created the very fabric of fairytale dreams. Before you visit Rigny-Usse, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

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Chateau d'Usse reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating

1,445 reviews

Google

4.4

By E1505NMcaroleb

A stunning château from first sight, you can understand why it was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty. The difference with Château d’Ussé is that it has been owned by the same family for almost 200.... more

A stunning château from first sight, you can understand why it was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty. The difference with Château d’Ussé is that it has been owned by the same family for almost 200.... more »
By AnaMBO

This Castle needs to start using the money tourists pay to enter and restore it. It is a shame how the owners are not properly preserving this historic place that is so beautiful.

This Castle needs to start using the money tourists pay to enter and restore it. It is a shame how the owners are not properly preserving this historic place that is so beautiful. more »
By tk3232

To be honest, I don’t even know where to start my impressions of visiting the castle, there are so many of them and they are all amazing. We started our visit according the map, because the territory.... more

To be honest, I don’t even know where to start my impressions of visiting the castle, there are so many of them and they are all amazing. We started our visit according the map, because the territory.... more »

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Google

By Mandy my PHN

The castle is full of history, and the Sleeping Beauty tower is one of their highlights and it would be interesting for children. Their garden was very pretty even in September, and there were still lots of nice flowers blooming. It is definitely worth the visit. It wasn’t too crowded in September, and there were plenty of nice photo spots. What a lovely castle!

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By Michelle Mitton

Not quite as open as Chateau Villandry, but this is also a chateau we really enjoyed. It's in a lovely setting with a moat and bridge leading up to it. There aren't that many rooms for public view but the chapel on the grounds is beautiful. They have a terrific display of costumes set up throughout that makes it nice and they also allow you down to the absolute bottom part down in the foundations that is cool and spooky

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By Janet Smith

The Château is impressive from the outside. The chateau, chapel and gardens. It’s not in anyway disabled friendly. That’s why it’s 3 star for me. It’s worth a visit with the rich history that it encompasses. The prison was small, I wondered if this was only part of it as the chateau is continuing to be restored. The place that inspired the sleeping beauty fairytale , it was written here.

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By Paul Allen

Beautiful chateau, privately owned, lots to see in the house, prison, stables, chapel and caves. Great for kids as they have the Sleeping Beauty story narrated on a special walk in one of the towers and battlements. Everything is documented, but would recommend hiring the "Audio Pen" audioguide available in various languages

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By Rema

I cannot stress enough how very disappointing this chateau is. The outside is beautiful! But inside, it smells absolutely terrible. The many, many creepy mannequins, in their cheesy costumes, took away from appreciating the architecture; there are far too many, and they are entirely not necessary. I was hoping the tower was the only place with the mannequins used for the Sleeping Beauty story. Still, I was highly disappointed, seeing that they were everywhere throughout the chateau. The only thing worth seeing is the garden and chapel. Don’t waste your time.

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