Château d'Ussé is an emblematic Loire Valley castle in Indre-et-Loire, representing a distinctive blend of medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles. Originally fortified in the eleventh century overlooking the Indre Valley and the Chinon forest, the stronghold was built in 1462 by Jean V de Bueil, admiral of France, then embellished by subsequent owners throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle's romantic appearance inspired Charles Perrault to write 'Sleeping Beauty in the Woods.' An ancestral home of the Blacas family for over two centuries, the privately inhabited château remains open to visitors from February through November, offering an authentic experience of Loire Valley heritage.
