First mention of the Hurault 1315 (≈ 1315)
Robert Hurault owns the land.
1510-1564
Renaissance period
Renaissance period 1510-1564 (≈ 1537)
Fortress built by Raoul II Hurault.
1625-1634
Construction of the current castle
Construction of the current castle 1625-1634 (≈ 1630)
Directed by Jacques Bougier for Henri Hurault.
1648
Death of Henri Hurault
Death of Henri Hurault 1648 (≈ 1648)
Transmission to girls, including Cécile-Élisabeth.
1755
Sale to Earl of Harcourt
Sale to Earl of Harcourt 1755 (≈ 1755)
Start of owner changes.
1825
Repurchase by the Marquis de Vibraye
Repurchase by the Marquis de Vibraye 1825 (≈ 1825)
Back to the Hurault progeny.
1922
Open to the public
Open to the public 1922 (≈ 1922)
Initiated by the Marquis de Vibraye.
2001
Permanent exhibition Tintin
Permanent exhibition Tintin 2001 (≈ 2001)
Creation of the Moulinsart space.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The castle and its communes (rests of the former castle) with the exception of parts classified: inscription by order of 13 February 1926 - The park with its fence walls, the canal, the gardens, the dovecote, the kennel, the facades and roofs of the orangery, the control, all the buildings around the courtyard of the communes, the entrance gate of the nineteenth century, the floors of the courtyards, the gardens and the park (Box AA 1 to 11, 13 to 26, 32 to 38; AB 1, 12, 13): inscription by decree of 5 December 2008 - The entire castle (cad. AA 27) , as well as the facades and roofs of the orangery (cad. AA 12, 13) and the north-south perspective of the park (cad. AA 14, 28, 30, 31): classification by decree of 30 June 2010
Key figures
Raoul II Hurault - Lord of Cheverny (XVI century)
Builder of the Renaissance fortress.
Philippe Hurault - Chancellor of France (XVI century)
Owner under Henry III and Henry IV.
Henri Hurault - Count of Cheverny (1575-1648)
Sponsor of the present castle.
Marguerite Gaillard de la Morinière - Countess of Cheverny (17th century)
Legendary construction manager.
Jean Mosnier - Decorative painter (17th century)
Author of painted ceilings and panels.
Jacques Bougier - Architect (17th century)
Designer of the classic castle.
Hergé - Author of comic strip (XX century)
Inspired by Cheverny for Moulinsart.
Marquis de Vibraye - Current Owner (since 1825)
Family maintaining and opening the castle.
Origin and history
Cheverny Castle, located in the Loir-et-Cher region of the Centre-Val de Loire, is built in the 17th century on the remains of a Renaissance fortress acquired in 1315 by the Hurault family. This classical monument, designed by architect Jacques Bougier, embodies the climax of French art under Louis XIII, with influences from Salomon de Brosse. His history was marked by figures such as Philippe Hurault, Chancellor of France, and Henri Hurault, who had the building rebuilt after a marital drama in the early 17th century.
The construction, carried out from 1625 to 1634, mobilizes renowned artists: Jean Mosnier for paintings, Gilles Guérin for sculptures, and cabinetmaker Hevras Hammerber for woodwork. The castle, which remained in the Hurault family (then Vibraye) despite temporary sales, was classified as Historic Monument in 1840. Its interior preserves treasures such as Flemish tapestries, painted panelling, and a weapons room with collections from the 15th to the 17th century.
In the 18th century, Cheverny changed hands several times, escaping destruction during the Revolution thanks to his owner, Jean-Nicolas Dufort. Purchased in 1825 by the Marquis de Vibraye, descendants of the Hurault, it was opened to the public in 1922. Today, the castle is famous for its 350,000 annual visitors, its French-style park, and its link with Tintin: Hergé s.
The 100-hectare park, with its French garden, 18th-century orangery and six-kilometre driveways, completes this preserved estate. The communes still house remains of the old Renaissance castle, while the orangery, having served as a refuge for the national furniture during the Second World War, now hosts events. A permanent exhibition celebrates Hergé's legacy, with reconstituted sets of albums.
Ranked and protected on several occasions (1926, 2008, 2010), Cheverny embodies the excellence of the Ligerian heritage. Its interiors, such as the King's room with tapestries of Ulysses or the dining room with panels of Don Quixote, testify to an unaltered refinement. The Vibraye family, still the owner, perpetuates this tradition of hospitality and conservation, making Cheverny a symbol of French classicism.
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Future
Since 2001, with the help of the Hergé Foundation, the castle houses a permanent interactive exhibition on 700m2 around the world of Tintin.
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