The castle of Ussé is located in the French Department of Indre and Loire. The castle stands on the edge of Sinnsage forest and overlooking the river Indre.

First inhabited this territory of the Gallic and Roman tribes, the remains of burial mounds of the times of that era. The town of Ussat appeared in the VI century and was an important strategic post guarding the road to Chinon.

The first fortress, surrounded by a palisade, was built in 1004 Signore". Then the territory was ceded to the counts de Blois, who in 1040 built a stone castle here. In the XV century, lying in the ruins of the castle of Ussé was purchased by Jean V de Beyem, the famous French military leader, who became the Seigneur'usse in 1431. The restoration of the castle began in 1440. With 1456 Signore " was his son, Antoine, who in 1462, married Jeanne de Valois, the illegitimate daughter of the king of France Charles VII and Agnes Sorel. Received a large dowry, he held a series of restoration work, during which the castle was rebuilt in accordance with the style of the XV century. But in 1485, Antoine finally went bankrupt and was forced to sell the Chateau Jacques d Espino.

Jacques d Espino, Breton, rising to the rank of Chamberlain when the kings Charles VIII and Louis XII, continued to Refine the castle. In 1521 to the castle of Ussé was added to the Church, which later became the ancestral burial d Espino. And in 1538 was built the Church of St. Anne.

The castle of Ussé changed many owners, which include and the Duchess of Suzanne de Bourbon, Duke Henry of Savoy. In 1664 around the castle was a Park created by the famous French landscape architect andré Le nôtre. The castle was reconstructed and acquired features typical of the style of the XVI-XVII centuries.

At the junction of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in the castle of Ussé often stopped by such personalities as military engineer Marquis de Vauban and writer Charles Perrault. It is believed that this castle is described in the famous fairy tale "Sleeping beauty". In the XVIII century the castle was stopped and the great Voltaire, he wrote a poem Henriade.

In 1807, the castle was bought by the family of Duras. In March 1813 the castle secretly met the Cavaliers, including representatives of the noble families of Tremul and de Montmorency. They discussed the possibility of the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.

In 1817, near the chapel of the castle of Ussé was planted Lebanese cedar, brought from the Holy Land, the French writer Chateaubriand, a friend of the wife of the owner of the castle. The writer also often stayed here and worked on his memoirs, "a Sepulchral notes".

Near the main staircase hangs a portrait of king Louis XVIII of France, which the king himself gave the owners of the castle. In 1835 on the restoration of the castle was created by renowned Swiss architect Duelen.

Since 1885 Ussé castle belongs to the Duke de blak. Since 1931 is considered a monument of culture and art.

The castle of Ussé is made in two architectural styles of the middle Ages and the Renaissance, and some elements relate to the period of Classicism. The Park around the castle was laid out during the reign of Louis XIV by the famous French landscape architect andré Le nôtre.

Among the rooms of the castle are especially of particular interest is the guard house, which is a huge hall of the XV century, located at the entrance to the castle. The ceiling of the XVII century in the Italian style made of artificial marble. Now in the hall houses a collection of Eastern, particularly Indian weapons, brought in the nineteenth century by count Stanislas de blak, Indian military. In the hall is a Syrian chest of cedar, on which are represented figures of ivory, depicting Indian monuments, including the famous Taj Mahal. Also in the hall you can see a collection of Chinese porcelain and a sort of family tree de blak.

Even from the interior of the castle we need to emphasize the interior of Vauban. Earlier, there was a medieval chapel, but in the XVII century this room was transformed into an office. Of particular interest is Italian secretaire ebony, consisting of 49 secret drawers. The rest of the furniture – in addition to the so-called "Bureau Mazarin" (XVII century) belongs to the Regency era (XVIII century), and specially designed wheels to make it smoother to move. The walls of the room are covered as Brussels tapestries depicting scenes from the Bible stories about David and Goliath, and the portraits of Madame de Maintenon (mistress of king Louis XIV) and the writer Chateaubriand. Above the fireplace hangs a painting "Belshazzar's Feast" of the XVII century.

Another series of Brussels tapestries is stored in a large gallery that connects the Eastern and Western wing of the castle. Also there is a replica of the bust of Louis XIV authorship Bernini.