Hôtel Saint-Hubert
Cour-Cheverny - 122, Rue Nationale
Book now
Located in the heart of the Loir-et-Cher département, the Château de Cheverny is a must-see among the many castles of the Loire. Known for inspiring the Belgian cartoonist Hergé in the creation of the castle of Moulinsart in his famous comic strip Tintin, the Château de Cheverny is above all an example of period architecture and decoration reflecting the French art of living.
From the perfect balance of its facades to the details of its sumptuous interiors, the Château de Cheverny embodies the classic French style. Surrounded by a majestic botanical park, the estate is a place of tranquillity and delight, guarded and preserved by the same family for six centuries.
Built by the architect Jacques Bougier between 1620 and 1640, the Château de Cheverny is the precursor of the French style that would prevail under the reign of Louis XIV. Sobriety and symmetry were the watchwords of its designer, who created a building with perfect lines: it consists of a central body framed by two lateral structures and two corner pavilions. The castle owes the clarity of its façade to the use of Bourré stone, which has the characteristic of whitening and hardening over time.
Renowned craftsmen and excellent artists have moulded the castle’s splendid interiors, covered with coffered ceilings and frescoed with legendary scenes.
The flats are richly decorated and feature exceptional furnishings. Gilding, canvases by masters, tapestries from Flanders and the Gobelins, Louis XIV and Louis XV coffers, period objects: each piece is skilfully orchestrated to immerse the visitor in the settings of the past and the French art of living.
The King’s Chamber is full of original objects while the Hall of Arms fascinates with its authentic collection of armour, including that of the Count of Chambord when he was only 4 years old.
When you visit Cheverny Castle, don’t miss the permanent exhibition on Tintin, The Secrets of Moulinsart: since its first appearance in The Secret of the Unicorn, Moulinsart Castle (inspired precisely by Cheverny Castle) has become the port of departure for Tintin and his travelling companions.
The exhibition takes the visitor into the world of the little reporter Tintin, thanks to an interactive exhibition covering over 700 square metres: the life-size reconstruction of the sets is stunning and offers a real show-tour. At the entrance to each room, a visual animation places the scene evoked in the context of the comic strip. We then find the objects of our heroes, such as a 33 rpm Castafiore, Tintin’s clothes hanging in his room or a bottle of Loch Lomond, Captain Haddock’s favourite whisky.
And it is impossible to escape the Captain’s famous curses, echoing everywhere in the background: visitors will be invited to interact with the environment, in a fun and engaging game.
If the interiors are marvellous, the gardens surrounding the château are amazing: you will find five themed gardens to visit, each with its own identity and changing colours according to the season.
First you visit the vegetable garden, an incredible bouquet that cleverly mixes the colours and shapes of seasonal flowers and vegetables. Next comes the Garden of the Apprentice, a space formerly occupied by a French garden: located between the château and the Orangery, it opens up a magnificent perspective on the park.
Then you will pass by the Garden of Love, featuring 6 monumental bronze sculptures by Swedish sculptor Gudmar Olovson: a tribute to life, love of course, and family. Also not to be missed is the Tulip Garden, a riot of colour thanks to the 250,000 bulbs that bloom from March to April.
Finally, a favourite with young and old alike, you will find the Caucasian Laurel Labyrinth: a fun time with family or friends before a snack at the Orangerie. It was here, during the Second World War, that Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was hidden to save it from Nazi looting.
The Château de Cheverny is surrounded by an immense park, consisting not only of English-style lawns, but also of canals and tree-lined avenues of redwoods, cedars and lime trees, planted between 1820 and 1860 by Paul de Vibraye.
This part of the forest can be visited in comfortable electric cars or small boats, accompanied by a local guide: the service runs from April to November.
The castle is open 365 days a year, including 25 December, 1 January and 1 May. Times vary according to the season. Last admission to the castle is 30 minutes after the ticket office closes.
There are various types of tickets: depending on the time you have available, you can visit just the castle and gardens, which lasts an average of 1h30/1h45, or you can also add the Tintin exhibition for about 2½ hours or combine the tour with the electric cars and boats. In this case, you will have to allow about 4 hours on the estate.
Cheverny Castle is only 2 hours from Paris, which you can reach by landing at Paris Orly Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
If you plan to travel from Paris or Tours by car, you will need to take the A10 motorway, exit 17 towards Blois, then D956 and D765 towards Romorantin-Lanthenay to Cheverny.
If, on the other hand, you are coming from Bourges, you must follow the A71 motorway then the A85, exit 14 towards Romorantin-Lanthenay then D765 to Cheverny.
To reach Cheverny Castle from Paris, you must leave from the Gare d’Austerlitz. Once you arrive at Blois station, a shuttle service is provided to the region’s castles: you can get to Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Villesavin and Beauregard. The price is EUR 3 per shuttle trip. Alternatively, the taxi service offers the one-way trip for 25 euros.
Alternatively, you can take a TGV fast train from Paris: the journey takes 42 minutes from Montparnasse station. The TGV station is 30 km from Blois: once there, it will be essential to take a taxi directly to Blois or the Cheverny castle.
The village of Che verny is a handful of houses nestled in the French countryside. You therefore have two options: you can choose to stay in Blois, which is only 16 km, about 20 minutes’ drive from Cheverny, where you will be spoilt for choice in terms of the variety of establishments, or you can find accommodation around the château. Here, the hotel scene is predominantly composed of B&Bs or Gites, i.e. B&Bs set in picturesque and enchanting country estates.
What's the weather at Cheverny Castle? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Cheverny Castle for the next few days.
The Château de Cheverny is located in the heart of the Loir-et-Cher, just 16 km from Blois and 200 from Paris.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel 
