P&O Ferries celebrates fairytale hotspots

People with a soft spot for fairytales should take ferries to France to visit destinations that provided inspiration for some timeless myths and legends, according to P&O Ferries.

Writing in her blog for the company, Rosie Khdir brings attention to the work of Charles Perrault, a 17th century French writer who authored popular versions of stories including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Puss in Boots.

One location that reportedly provided inspiration for Perrault is Chateau d'Usse in the village of Rigny Usse.

Situated a few hours' drive away from Caen ferry port, the castle offers Sleeping Beauty tours that feature scenes from the story presented in different rooms.

Another source of inspiration for the writer was Chateau d'Oiron, a royal property that provided the setting for the tale of Puss in Boots.

Today, the building serves as a museum housing around 80 exhibits representing the site's history and architecture.

People interested in visiting France to see some of the country's castles can travel with P&O Ferries on the Dover to Calais ferry route, which is also served by Seafrance.

Brittany Ferries offers a Portsmouth to Caen ferry service, while LD Lines operates ferries to Le Havre from Portsmouth.

Posted by Andrew Smith