Rigny-Ussé Things to Do

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The chapel was built between 1520-38 by Charles d'Espinay, whose father, who was Louis XI's chamberlain,bought the chateau from the original de Bueil family. It is done in late Gothic style with many Renaissance flourishes and sits apart from the chateau. It is 4 bays in length with pedant pointed arch vaulting. The West portal is Renaissance with its buttresses topped by carved candelabrae. Its tympanum is a decorative shell. Above is a pointed double window covered by elaborate figuration. Most significant are jamb extensions along the inner sides of the buttresses where medallions contain projecting figures of the Apostles looking out at us. (This was a recent Italian innovation).

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There are hourly tours (in French) of selected rooms (45 minutes long) that form a sort of museum of the period - decorations and fixtures (paper translations into some other languages are provided). Other rooms are the family residence. The room called the Antechamber is large and has a copy of Veronese's "Wedding at Cana" on one wall. On the next side is a 17C Italian secretary-cabinet of ebony with ivory inlay. Downstairs the Guardroom has been redone with a 17C trompe l'oeil ceiling simulating marble. The main staircase has a beautiful wrought-iron banister and landing. At its base is an 18C Sedan chair. There are several fine and interesting Tapestries (we illustrate one of the 18C from Brussels from a cartoon by Teniers, the younger). Other rooms have fine examples of period furniture. There is a King's Room, but no monarch ever visited.

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The chateau of Usse has two lateral wings joined by a southern arcaded wing. The north side was demolished centuries ago to improve the view onto a large elevated terrace. The 15C east (left) wing is Gothic in style and retains its military appearance (machicolations). The west wing is Renaissance in style (16C). The connecting south wing is arcaded (built about 1500).