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 THE CASTLE PRESENTATION
Only some remnants of Raoul Hurault’s old fortified castle possibly remain today. To say possibly may be surprising. This is a mystery in Cheverny as it cannot be proven whether part of the outbuildings are vestiges of the old castle. The old castle was captured in a drawing by a travelling artist but there are no reliable landmarks in the drawing. This is why the present castle could well have been built on the exact spot as the old castle, which would have been completely demolished.
The present Château de Cheverny is an original jewel among the more famous monuments that stretch along the Loire Valley. In fact, Renaissance style did not find its place in Cheverny, which is built in the purest Louis XIII classical style, distinguished by an extraordinarily symmetrical architecture. Cheverny, which was built in the first part of the 17th Century, is a prime example of this style. Its delicate features also stand out through the perfect whiteness of the stones, from the Bourré quarries in the Cher Valley. This particular stone not only comes out white, but also becomes harder with time. However, this almost rigid architectural layout also has its contrasts, such as the variety of roofing styles, from domes, to bell-towers and other French-style roofs.
The building work was put under the direction of an architect, master-mason and sculptor, Jacques Bougier, who was very well-known in his time. He also worked on a wing of the nearby Château de Blois. His work on a royal castle shows Cheverny’s desire for quality. Unfortunately, Bougier died before completing his work. Cheverny’s main staircase is the work of an unknown craftsman who simply left his initials and a date on the ground floor: FL 1634. The Château de Cheverny is perfectly preserved as it was built all at once. Nothing has been changed.
Thanks to this, Cheverny has maintained the same exterior for the last 350 years, without gaining the smallest wrinkle!
INSIDE THE CASTLE
In Cheverny, Jean Monier is more famous for his interior design than for his paintings. Thirty-four painted wood panels around the walls of the dining room depict the story of Don Quixote (the hero of the Cervantes novel). On the first floor, the King’s Chamber displays a particularly sumptuous design; the coffered ceiling shows scenes from the myth of Perseus and Andromeda and the panels depict the legend of Theagenes and Chariclea.
The Arms Room gives a more subdued feel than the King’s Chamber, with perhaps the exception of the magnificent fireplace. Following the example of the fireplace in the King’s Chamber, its patterns have been painted and restored with gold-leaf such as the two lovers who seem to be holding one of Jean Monier’s rare canvas paintings entitled “the death of Adonis.â€
The Château de Cheverny has always been occupied and subsequent generations have always had a refined taste. This certainly explains the presence of many different items of furniture from different periods which have been kept in impeccable condition.
Amongst many other items, the Louis XIV chest of drawers with Boulle marquetry in the Tapestry Room is worth a mention, just as the clock decorated with bronze engravings from the Louis XV period. This exceptional piece was designed to give the correct time and was used to set the other clocks in the castle. It is also difficult not to stop to admire the fabulous tapestry from the Manufacture des Gobelins (which has never been restored) in pride of place in the Arms Room. Lastly, let us not forget the wonderful canopied bed with Persian embroidery in which King Henri IV of France slept
THE GROUNDS
Description of the Château de Cheverny’s grounds : The château seems to be in the middle of a sea of carefully maintained lawns. These lawns are an ideal link to the landscaped park with remarkable trees such as the Family lindens, the giant redwoods and cedar trees from the Atlas Mountains, Lebanon and the Himalayas.
A new ornamental and pleasure garden stretches from the castle to the orangery. This modern garden covers ground that was once a French-style formal garden, the plans of which are still kept at Cheverny.
Cheverny is also an important estate for hunting with hounds. Visitors can view the kennels and can even watch the dogs being fed every day at 5pm from the 1st April to the 15th September.
DISCOVERY
Original tour of the grounds and the canal :The Château de Cheverny stands over large lawns and magnificent flowerbeds, inspired by the original plans. This setting is extended by the landscaped park with rows of majestic trees.
Since 1997, an original tour has been on offer featuring the woodland area of the park. The idea is not to contemplate the individual beauty of each tree, but to admire a succession of planted areas.
- Coming to Cheverny from France
Situated at the heart of France in the Loire Valley, the Château de Cheverny can be reached in two hours from Paris by train, or by car. To come:
By car from Paris
Motorway A10, Paris – Bordeaux, Exit Blois, 170 km/ 106 miles
Major road RN 152, Paris РOrl̩ans РBlois, 180 km/ 112 miles
By train from Paris
By train, stop at Blois train station
from Paris Austerlitz station,
duration 1hr 40 min
from Paris Montparnasse station,
TGV Paris РVend̫me,
duration 42 min (Vend̫me РBlois 30km/ 18.6 miles)
- Taxis in Blois
Taxi a
ppel, place de la gare
41000 Blois – 00 33 (0)2 54 78 07 65
Taxi Carton, 13 rue Poutils
41000 Blois -00 33 (0)2 54 78 74 63
Blois Radio Taxi, place de la gare
41000 Blois – 00 33 (0)2 54 78 07 65
- Opening Times
(Open every day of the year)
- from 1st January to 31st March:
from 9.45am to 5.00pm - from 1st April to 30th June:
from 9.15am to 6.15pm - from 1st July to 31st August:
from 9.15am to 6.45pm - from 1st September to 30th September:
from 9.15am to 6.15pm - from 1st October to 31st October:
from 9.45am to 5.30pm - from 1st November to 31st December:
from 9.45am to 5.00pm