Nestled in France’s Loire Valley, Château d’Ussé is perhaps most famous as the inspiration for Charles Perrault’s 17th-century
Sleeping Beauty. And indeed, when you arrive at the historic castle, it really is like entering that fairytale.
Surrounded by dense forest, in which bears, deer and birds of prey still live, its turrets seem lost in time. Each and every detail is almost unreal: the light, the colours, the flowers, the scents. The château’s beauty is breathtaking, and its surroundings so magical that it feels as if anything could happen.
Even amid the many castles that dot the Loire, this one, which once welcomed philosophers Voltaire and Rousseau through its doors, stands out. Guarded by ancient oaks, the majestic building is approached through a vast garden filled with fragrant blooms –…
