Stone dream
A unique site unlike any other, straight out of a country postman’s roaming imagination, the “Palais Idéal” is a tribute to the genius of nature. Nature through which Ferdinand Cheval walks each day during his long postal rounds in 1879. The contemplation of nature provides him an intense happiness and gives him the inspiration to get down to work.
Work is my glory ...
From the first to the last stone, this man builds untiringly his dream of eternity : 93 000 hours, 10 000 days, 33 years. The ridicule from some villagers is quickly swept away by the encouragements of others and he keeps on building imperturbably. And because he also dreams of distant horizons, travelling and exotic adventures, Ferdinand Cheval invites history, philosophies, civilisations and religions from all over the world to be part of his construction. The “Palais idéal “ becomes a temple of nature , of ideas , of tolerance. The messages engraved by the postman are timeless and speak to each of us according to his heart.
... and honour my only happiness
Ferdinand Cheval passed away and joined the Eastern and Western fairies. His tomb at the village cemetery is simular to his palace. His rest is that of an honest man who accomplished his work. Picasso, André Breton, André Malraux hailed the postman as an artist and a new dimension was suddenly added to his work: naïve art, art brut, surrealism, historical monument, Gaudi. Each year, thousands of visitors from all over the world come to Hauterives to discover this Palace and to take a piece of this ever fascinating stone dream with them.
Palais Idéal welcomes you all year
except 12/25 ; 01/01 and Closed from 01/15 to 01/31
Opening times
In january :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 1.30pm to 4.30pm
From february to march :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 1.30pm to 5.30pm
From april to june :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 1.30pm to 6.30pm
In july and august :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 13h30 to 19h00
In september :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 1.30pm to 6.30pm
In october and november :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 1.30pm to 5.30pm
In december :
from 9.30am to 12.30pm
and 1.30 to 4.30pm
Official Website
Ferdinand Cheval, 1836 - 1924
Ferdinand Cheval aka Facteur Cheval (1836-1924) was a postman who built his dream : Le Palais Idéal. An amazing and imaginary castle.
Stone by stone, he imposed this harsh discipline on himself to show that willpower could triumph over all manner of physical and mental difficulties, and also achieve a more perfect understanding of the nature of things and the nature itself.
Le Palais Idéal
1879 - 1912
33 years of struggle
10 000 days
93 000 hours
"Let those who think they can do better try"
National historic landmark
The work of one man
A tribute to nature
A singular monument
