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The interior of the chateau


The rooms that can be visited contain remarkable period furniture that was accumulated by the different owners of the chateau, and which managed to avoid the destruction that took place in most chateaux during the French Revolution. Some of these rooms contain wax figures wearing original clothes, that show what life was like when the chateau was inhabited.



The King's Room

 The king's room

Like many other French chateaux, Usse has a King's Room, even though no king ever lived in or even visited the chateau.

This chateau belonged to the Rohan family, who were "Peers of France". In each of their residences, they had to reserve one room, called the "King's Room", to be able to offer their hospitality, if need be, to their ruler when he travelled. The King's Room in Usse was never used.

The royal apartments were furnished in the 18th century, and the walls and chairs are covered with the original silk fabrics and upholstery.


Among other things seen during a visit to the chateau is the guard room, with an interesting collection of weapons, and a gallery whose walls are covered with a huge tapestry showing realistic scenes, and a magnificent collection of toys.

The path around the chateau's battlements is surrounded with glassed-in rooms showing, with wax figures, scenes from the Perrault fairy tale "The sleeping beauty".


 


The Chapel

 The chapel

The chapel of the chateau, on the edge of the forest, is one of the finest examples of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance style architecture that can be seen in the region. The Gothic structure has Renaissance ornaments added to it. The facade and main gate are sumptuously decorated, and the interior of the building is as dignified as the outside. The most splendid work in the chateau is certainly the polychromatic terra cotta virgin by Luca Della Robia.

 

 


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