Cheverny is the château that looks like a home. Built in the early seventeenth century in a calm classical style, with a pale tuffeau façade and a perfectly symmetrical front, it has remained in the same family for centuries, and the interior shows it: richly furnished rooms with painted ceilings, tapestries, a great staircase and a dining room decorated with scenes from Don Quixote. The estate is a working hunting property, with a pack of hounds that are fed at set times, and the walls of the trophy room are covered in antlers. Cheverny also has a connection to popular culture, because Hergé used it as the model for Marlinspike Hall in the Tintin books, and an exhibition inside the estate tells the story. In the grounds you will find formal gardens, an orangery and, in season, boat and electric car rides. Cheverny lies about twenty minutes from Chambord and Blois, so it is a natural second stop on a day trip.
Start with the house. The visitor route runs through the dining room, the great staircase and the bedrooms, and many are laid out as they were when the family lived in them, with portraits, furniture and objects from several centuries. The decorations are rich, but the proportions are human, and the sense of continuity is one of the pleasures of Cheverny. The trophy room, hung with antlers from the estate's hunts, is a reminder of the estate's purpose.
Outside, the gardens and the avenue of trees frame the façade, and the kennels house the hounds that still hunt on the estate. If you are interested in Tintin, a separate exhibition recreates scenes from the books; it costs more than the château and gardens ticket and has its own opening hours. In the warmer months there are boats on the canal and electric cars, but these stop at the beginning of November.
In winter the estate is open every day from ten in the morning to five in the afternoon, including public holidays, and the house is heated. Parking is free. Tickets are sold on site only, without reservation, so there is no advance ticket to plan around, but queues in November are short. Guided tours are available on some days for an extra fee. Cheverny and Chambord can be combined in one day by car, with lunch between them.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through furnished family rooms, with a separate Tintin exhibition, formal gardens and the hound kennels.
Best time
Late morning, then the hounds' feeding time if it fits; winter mornings are quiet.
How long
Around two hours, more if you add the Tintin exhibition.
Tips
Tickets are sold on site only. In winter the estate opens at ten and closes at five, boat and car rides have ended and parking is free.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and anyone who wants to see a château still lived in by its owners.
- Families
- Tintin fans, hounds and gardens make it the most child-friendly château in the valley.
- Couples
- A quiet winter visit in a heated house, then lunch nearby.
- Pair with
- Chambord and Blois, both a short drive away.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the exhibition and gardens.
Good questions
Is Cheverny open in November?+
Yes, it is open every day in winter from ten in the morning to five in the afternoon, and the house is heated. The boat and electric car rides run only until early November.
Can I buy tickets in advance?+
Tickets are sold on site only, without reservation, so there is nothing to book ahead. Queues in low season are generally short.
What is the Tintin connection?+
The artist Hergé used Cheverny as the model for Marlinspike Hall, the home of Captain Haddock. An exhibition on the estate tells the story and is ticketed separately or as a combination.
How do I get to Cheverny?+
Cheverny is easiest by car, about twenty minutes from Blois and Chambord. Public transport is limited, so a tour or taxi is the practical alternative.
Can I see the hounds?+
The hunting hounds live in kennels on the estate and are fed at set times on certain days. Check the day's programme at the ticket office.
