Palais Idéal in France - a palace built by the postman Cheval

Writer: Helena Bergström

If you're a fan of unusual sights, don't miss the Palais Idéal in France. This building stands out from everything else we've seen, and the story behind it is fascinating. The entire monument was built by one man: the postman Ferdinand Cheval.

Palais Idéal in France

The Palais Idéal is an impressive and imaginative building. It is particularly inspiring to see what a single person can create, without any training, practical help or financial resources.

All Ferdinand Cheval, the postman, had was stubbornness and a huge drive - and inspiration from all the postcards and newspapers he saw while delivering mail.

The Palais Idéal is located in Hauterives, just over 70 kilometres south of Lyon.

Palais Idéal - a work by a lonely postman

Ferdinand Cheval was born in the village of Charmes, not far from Hauterives, in 1836. He grew up in a poor rural family, where he worked alongside his father. He went to school between the ages of 6 and 12 and later became an apprentice in a bakery, before becoming a postman in Hauterives.

Ferdinand married and had a daughter, Alice, who unfortunately passed away at the age of 15, taking a toll on her parents. So, how did this simple postman end up building a magnificent palace?

One day, during his long rounds as a postman, he came across a stone described as "the stumbling block". Its unusual shape sparked a long-held dream: to create a fairytale castle beyond the limits of imagination.

Night after night he worked on his project. For 33 years he laboured collecting stones and casting moulds.

He was inspired by the nature he walked through every day, as well as the postcards and illustrated magazines with pictures from all corners of the world that he saw in his job as a postman.

Palais Idéal - with inspiration from around the world

At first glance, the palace made us think of a Hindu temple.

As we got closer, we saw creations inspired from all over the world: ancient palaces, medieval castles, Arab mosques, Egyptian tombs...

Everywhere there are figures in the form of real or mythical animals or creatures.

Stepping into the cave rooms feels a bit like visiting the tomb of a mighty pharaoh. Or maybe not? There are texts in French on the walls and sculpted chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, unlike anything else we've seen in the world so far.

At one of the facades, we stand for a long, long time and just look. All the time a new face or a new imaginative creature appears. It is as if there is always something new to see, even though we remain in the same place.

Visiting the Palais Idéal

Today, the Palais Idéal is a popular attraction and you pay an entrance fee (currently €9.50 per person) to visit the monument. It's well worth it, we must say, because this edifice is fascinating to see!

When we were here (on a weekday in June), there was a "reasonable" amount of visitors. We were far from alone, but it was not hysterically crowded either. If you come during the real high season, it might be a good idea to come right at opening or maybe late before closing, so as not to be crowded too much.

There is also a small museum on the site that tells the story of the artwork and its creator, but unfortunately most of the information here is only in French. However, an information leaflet is available in English.

Hauterives is a small, quiet town where, in addition to the Palais Idéal, there is a tourist office and a few restaurants and shops.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There is a campsite in Hauterives (Flower Camping Le Chateau) and a car park (Aire Municipale). We stood on the car park, which is a very simple place with large areas for parking. Some service is available in the form of the possibility of emptying grey and black water.

If you only park for a few hours, it is free and if you stay longer, for example overnight, it currently costs €10.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

The Palais Idéal is relatively close to the city of Lyon. We can also highly recommend taking a trip to the Ardèche nature area, where you can canoe in absolutely stunning canyons.

Have you visited Palais Idéal?

Have you visited the Palais Idéal? Do you like this kind of, different, attractions?