Ferdinand Cheval was born I the city with hardly pronounceable name Charmes-sur-l’herbasse in 1836. Circumstances of his birth and childhood are not of great interest to us. However, Ferdinand since childhood was known to be a perseverant and stubborn which along with laid-back dreaminess made him to be indeed a unique person. Let’s start from the point when Ferdinand Cheval moved to small town (now called ‘his town’) Hauterive where he worked as local postman. If anyone wants to go and take a look at that town, here’s the schematic map and there you’ll ask where to go..

Being a postman, Ferdinand walked daily 32km delivering all kinds of letters, brochures, wrappers, catalogs, newspapers and so on. They say Hauterive was famous by its hot weather, and postman had to walk long distance. Be that as it may, because of irrepressible fantasy or because of heat, as  evil-wishers said, but Cheval started experiencing visions of beautiful mythical palaces. Does it matter who of us and what visions.. we do live with it. But here two circumstances took place – Ferdinand’ perseverance and the fact that the place used to be bottom of a sea. Everywhere were spread lots of stones.

Then year 1879 came. One day the postman was delivering a parcel with gem, watched his palaces cartoons and all of a sudden stumble over one very beautiful stone. Don’t think, he didn’t even mentioned French Blessed Virgin, but stopped, put down the parcel with gem and examined the stone. Then took it home and later decided to explore whether all stones are same beautiful. It proved to be that yes. So then he was a bit touched understood that it was a sign.

"Because nature gave me building materials, I must become architect and builder", decided Cheval. So, he began bringing stones home and, at the same time, exploring architecture of all styles and times. As any dilletant, he didn’t had any prejudice, so he was influenced by all – East, Magrib, Modern. They say Cheval did even traveled to Algeria. But those lie, he took all his knowledge from the Le Magazin Pittoresque. Then he started learning practical side of his idea and continued bringing stones in his pockets, then a basket and eventually a wheelbarrow.

His daily root became 10 km longer but he certainly does not want perseverance. Cheval brought stones about 20 years. Then, in 1888 he retired and started building his Palace – "Styles of all nations and times will met there and mix”. Local people didn’t not get from the beginning that they saw a genius. He seemed to be "an old fool who flushed his garden with stones". In those times the Japonese culture was not brought into fashion, so stone garden simple people considered to be a huge foolery. But finally those decided that even if Cheval is crazy, he’s not dangerous and let him alone. But he continued collecting stones and building. 10 000 days, 93 hours and 33 years of work – and note that most of these years Ferdinand Cheval worked alone. His Palace was growing up and local people looked on him from the other side.
Made from stones, cement and wire, The Ideal Palace reminded a wild mixture of all kinds of styles and places – the Middle East, China, Algeria, and also influence of Antoni Gaudi.
Well, enough talking, you have to take a look!



Details of the Palace:

      

   

In the face of palace Cheval placed two crypts – for himself and his wife. He dreamed of to be buried under his work, but he was not allowed to do that. The problem was resolved in a simple way – Cheval bought a place on local churchyard and build there a crypt. One year later he was buried there.

But years earlier the Palace became local sight and Cheval even selled entrance tickets, very cheap one. He did worry about his palace to not remain only ‘local sight’, he wanted to become famous so during all his life this crazy and painstaking postman wrote autobiography, a part of which says:

"It doesn’t matter what age are you and what you wish to achieve. As long as you’re enough brave, persistent and ready to work hard, you will achieve a success without fail."


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