Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval, Hauterives

One day a French postman, Ferdinand Cheval, had a dream of building the perfect palace. He woke up the next morning and began his mammoth task. Thirty three years later, Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval stands as the bizarre and remarkable obsession of one simple man. The mainstream art world dubs the palace outsider artwork that should be viewed as a curiosity. Curiosity or legitimate architecture, the sheer magnitude of the project will impress you. The design includes hand-carved images of women and men among fantastical trees, storks sitting atop columns dripping with Gaudi-esque whimsy, and tiny details all emulating nature with a rough, untrained hand. It's no mistake that you’re reminded of Picasso and Max Ernst as you wander through the palace's corridors, both these artists took inspiration from Cheval's masterpiece. Plan to visit Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Hauterives attractions using our Hauterives travel route tool.