Page 303 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

The romantic turrets
and terraced gardens
of Château d'Usse

of lovingly re-created domestic overlooking the rivers Loire
15 " '\= detail. The first floor is fur- and Indre. Its romantic turrets,
Château d’Azay-le- nished in the Renaissance pointed towers and chimneys
Rideau style, with a fine example of a inspired 19th-century writer
portable Spanish cabinet and and collector of French fairy-
! C4 ⌂ Indre-et-Loire £ exquisite tapestries. The four- tales Charles Perrault to pen
@ Azay-le-Rideau # 10am–
6pm daily (to 11pm Jul & storey grand staircase is the now-famous story of
Aug) ¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec unusual for its time, being Sleeping Beauty.
straight as opposed to spiral.
A fortification was built
∑ azay-le-rideau.fr
In July and August, from 9pm here in the 11th century, and
Balzac called Azay-le-Rideau until midnight, a sound and replaced by the castle in the
“a multifaceted diamond set light show takes place. 15th cen tury, which was grad-
in the Indre”. Indeed, it is the Wine tasting in the village is ually trans formed into an
most beguiling of the Loire a welcome reminder that aristocratic château. It has
châteaux, created in the early vineyards are all around. been privately owned by the
16th cen tury by Philippa same family for more than
Les bahy, wife of François I’s two centuries. The interior is
cor rupt finance minister, and perhaps a little lacklustre (and
restored in the 19th century. 16 " ' the Sleeping Beauty tableaux
Although Azay is superficially Château d’Ussé are a bit clumsily presented),
Gothic, it clearly shows the ! C4 ⌂ Indre-et-Loire but it is worth visiting for the
transition to the Renaissance: £ Chinon, then taxi # Mid- delightful Renaissance chapel,
the turrets are purely Feb–mid-Nov: 10am–6pm framed by the oak forest of
decorative and the moats are daily ∑ chateaudusse.fr Chinon, and the exquisite gar-
picturesque pools. The dens, designed by Le Nôtre,
interior is equally delight ful, The illustrious Château d’Ussé who also created the gardens
an airy, creaking mansion full enjoys a bucolic setting by of Versailles (p170).
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