Château de Cheverny, Baroque castle in Loire Valley, France
Cheverny is a baroque castle near Cheverny in the Loire Valley, known for its pale stone facades and clear geometric layout. The three wings surround a main courtyard, while behind the building extends a wooded park with walking paths and open lawns.
The Hurault family bought the estate in the late 14th century; Raoul II Hurault obtained royal permission in 1510 to fortify a new house. Philippe Hurault built the present château between 1624 and 1630 to designs by Jacques Bougier, with interiors completed by 1650. The family sold the property in 1802 after forfeiting much of its wealth during the Revolution, then bought it back in 1824 under Charles X.
The kennels hold a pack of about 120 hunting hounds — 60 males, 40 females and 20 pups — taken out for hunts twice a week, and visitors can watch a video of their feeding. The dogs are part of the estate's long-standing hunting tradition, and the château was one of the first in the region to open to the public, in 1914.
The castle welcomes visitors every day of the year and allows access to both interior rooms and outdoor grounds. The route is self-guided, so you can move at your own pace and spend as much time as you wish in each area.
Hergé modelled Marlinspike Hall in The Adventures of Tintin on Cheverny, keeping the central block and two wings but omitting the two outermost pavilions. The château has been open to the public since 1914, one of the first in the region to admit visitors, and the de Vibraye family still runs it.
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