With its magnificent facade and slate roofs, the Château de Cheverny stands at the edge of Sologne. It was built entirely between 1604 and 1634 by the Count Hurault de Cheverny and has a unique style. It is also the emblem of a powerful and wealthy family of legal profession as the builder's father was chancellor to Kings Henry III and Henry IV.


The Cheverny domain still belongs to the family Hurault. What is more, Hergé, father of the cartoon character Tintin was inspired by the castle to draw the Château de Moulinsart, the famous residence of Captain Haddock!


One particular story about the Countess of Hurault is often told in Cheverny. One evening, in court, King Henry IV put two fingers above his head as if he had horns (the French sign for cuckoldry), which the Count of Cheverny understood as a sign of mockery from the King. He left immediately and ran straight home, just in time to see a page jump from the Countess's window. However, the page was out of luck and broke his leg so the Count managed to catch and kill him. The Count then went to his wife with a sword in one hand and in the other, a flask of poison. The Countess chose the poison and died. That same night, the Count of Cheverny attended the King's going-to-bed ceremony but Henry IV, who had been told the whole story, disapproved of the Count's behaviour and exiled him to his Château de Cheverny.


The Cheverny castle website : an illustrated map of the castle, parks, visits, balloon trips and access information.

France, the visit:
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