Inspired by the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, the castle features a central building with two residential wings and corner pavilions topped with domes and horizontal carved stones on either side. The use of Bourré stone, a soft-colored stone from the Cher Valley which becomes lighter and harder with age is used on the façade. The family estate is characterized by its simplicity and symmetry, making it a precursor of the typically French style under Louis XIV. (Yuri Turkov/Shutterstock)
More than a grand estate, Cheverny Castle (Château de Cheverny) is a family home. Located in a lovely valley along the Loire River in central France, the castle shows what French family life was like in the past.
Once a feudal fortification, the name Cheverny first appeared in a deed in 1315; Jean Hurault, a financier and officer at the service of King Louis X of France, acquired it in the late 14th century. His grandson, Jacques, inherited the property and was given the title, Lord of Cheverny (“Seigneur de Cheverny”). While the castle often changed hands over the centuries, it always returned to the Hurault family, who own and run the castle to this day.
A lieutenant general under King Louis XIII and the count of Cheverny in the 17th century, Henri Hurault, commissioned a new castle to be built between 1624 and 1630 on top of the old, fortified castle. French architect Jacques Bougier designed the structure in the classical style, which was popular under Louis XIII. The castle’s façade features white stone in a symmetrical design.
The interiors, designed by Henri’s wife Marguerite and completed by local craftsmen in 1650, represent the French “art of living” (“art de vivre”). The castle is the “best furnished“ and decorated castle in the Loire Valley; each room features an impressive collection of furniture, tapestries, and paintings handed down over generations.
The landscaped gardens that surround the castle feature an overall symmetry that lead to the entrance. Cheverny inspired artists such as Hergé, who used the castle as inspiration in his comic series, “The Adventures of Tintin.” (Alexander Demyanenko/Shutterstock)
A large English-style park surrounds the property, with gardened sections. The vegetable garden is both practical and ornamental, with a vegetable patch and flower garden, originally conceived by the Marquise de Vibraye. Her husband, the Marquis de Vibraye, is a descendant of the Hurault family and the current owner of the French château. (Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock)
The Arms Room contains many original furnishings, and is also the largest room in the castle. Priceless tapestries and furnishings decorate the room, as well as arms and armor. The ceiling has painted beams and wood panels, with floral motifs and Latin inscriptions. The room displays a 17th-century Gobelin tapestry, a Louis XIV chest of drawers, and a wooden carved chimney by French artist Jean Monier. (Yuri Turkov/Shutterstock)
The Grand Salon represents the grandeur of French aristocratic life. At the heart of the room stands a gilded harp and a floral velvet chair. An elegant fireplace is adorned with intricate plasterwork, floral motifs, and colored marble. Above the fireplace, a family portrait gazes upon the room, framed by gilded bas-relief sculptures. (Yuri Turkov/Shutterstock)
The dining room of Cheverny is characterized by its grand proportions and elegant décor. The room’s high ceilings are adorned with wooden beams, while tall windows flood the space with natural light. A large wooden table serves as the focal point for the room, while the grand fireplace adds to the ambiance, its mantel adorned with gilded framing. (DOPhoto/Shutterstock)
The King's bedchamber of Cheverny Castle encapsulates the timeless elegance and refined taste of French design. Gilded beams traverse the ceiling, imbuing the space with a sense of warmth and character. The walls are adorned with intricate tapestries, draping curtains, and elegant wallpaper. Many of the furnishings, including the bed and fireplace date from the 16th and 17th centuries. (Pecold/Shutterstock)
Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at [email protected]
