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There are some striking pieces of art in the world that do not confine to any rules, any logic, any style, or any norm. They are instead inspired by the untamed wastelands of imagination, from the marvelous diversity of nature, and the boldness of a single, exceptional human being.
The human being here is Ferdinand Cheval, a rural postman in his 40s. And his piece of art – the Cheval’s Ideal Castle.
One day, Ferdinand Cheval stumbles upon an oddly shaped stone that gives a mighty shout to his fantasy. Starting the same day, he dedicates 33 years of his life to creating a dreamy and surrealistic palace right there – in his lush garden of around 1,000 square meters. And he does it alone. On the surface of the castle, he writes down: “The work of one man.” And the marvel of many, we might add.
His fantasy mansion was fully completed in 1912 and listed as a historic monument soon after – in 1969. Ferdinand Cheval and his creation were worshiped by world-renowned artists such as Malraux, Breton, Max Ernst, Tinguely, and Picasso.
Art theoreticians and historians identify Ferdinand Cheval as the universal originator of Naïve Art, notwithstanding his humble origins and absolute absence of artistic references.
This is a rather bizarre stone building with opulent and irregular forms, reliefs, and decorations.
An unimaginable set of real-life bestiaries inhabits the castle’s insides and outsides: octopuses, elephants, hinds, caimans, bears, pelicans, and waterfowls, accompanied by mythological creatures like fairies, giants, and fantastic cultural quirks from all over the world.
The architectural style of the castle is unprecedented – it is highly favored by self-taught artists, outsiders, surrealists, and dadaists concurrently.
The monument is located in the Hauterives commune of France and is easily reachable both by bus and a private vehicle. It is accessible to the general public all-year-round, Sundays and holidays included. The only exceptions usually are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the short period from January 15 to January 31. Visitors are welcome to enjoy commented visits or full guided visits, lasting between half an hour and a full astronomical hour. At the end of your visit, you will be greeted in a charming souvenir shop where you can find various little treasures such as art objects and books, postcards, posters, and more.
There are some striking pieces of art in the world that do not confine to any rules, any logic, any style, or any norm. They are instead inspired by the untamed wastelands of imagination, from the marvelous diversity of nature, and the boldness of a single, exceptional human being.
The human being here is Ferdinand Cheval, a rural postman in his 40s. And his piece of art – the Cheval’s Ideal Castle.
One day, Ferdinand Cheval stumbles upon an oddly shaped stone that gives a mighty shout to his fantasy. Starting the same day, he dedicates 33 years of his life to creating a dreamy and surrealistic palace right there – in his lush garden of around 1,000 square meters. And he does it alone. On the surface of the castle, he writes down: “The work of one man.” And the marvel of many, we might add.
His fantasy mansion was fully completed in 1912 and listed as a historic monument soon after – in 1969. Ferdinand Cheval and his creation were worshiped by world-renowned artists such as Malraux, Breton, Max Ernst, Tinguely, and Picasso.
Art theoreticians and historians identify Ferdinand Cheval as the universal originator of Naïve Art, notwithstanding his humble origins and absolute absence of artistic references.
This is a rather bizarre stone building with opulent and irregular forms, reliefs, and decorations.
An unimaginable set of real-life bestiaries inhabits the castle’s insides and outsides: octopuses, elephants, hinds, caimans, bears, pelicans, and waterfowls, accompanied by mythological creatures like fairies, giants, and fantastic cultural quirks from all over the world.
The architectural style of the castle is unprecedented – it is highly favored by self-taught artists, outsiders, surrealists, and dadaists concurrently.
The monument is located in the Hauterives commune of France and is easily reachable both by bus and a private vehicle. It is accessible to the general public all-year-round, Sundays and holidays included. The only exceptions usually are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the short period from January 15 to January 31. Visitors are welcome to enjoy commented visits or full guided visits, lasting between half an hour and a full astronomical hour. At the end of your visit, you will be greeted in a charming souvenir shop where you can find various little treasures such as art objects and books, postcards, posters, and more.
There are some striking pieces of art in the world that do not confine to any rules, any logic, any style, or any norm. They are instead inspired by the untamed wastelands of imagination, from the marvelous diversity of nature, and the boldness of a single, exceptional human being.
The human being here is Ferdinand Cheval, a rural postman in his 40s. And his piece of art – the Cheval’s Ideal Castle.
One day, Ferdinand Cheval stumbles upon an oddly shaped stone that gives a mighty shout to his fantasy. Starting the same day, he dedicates 33 years of his life to creating a dreamy and surrealistic palace right there – in his lush garden of around 1,000 square meters. And he does it alone. On the surface of the castle, he writes down: “The work of one man.” And the marvel of many, we might add.
His fantasy mansion was fully completed in 1912 and listed as a historic monument soon after – in 1969. Ferdinand Cheval and his creation were worshiped by world-renowned artists such as Malraux, Breton, Max Ernst, Tinguely, and Picasso.
Art theoreticians and historians identify Ferdinand Cheval as the universal originator of Naïve Art, notwithstanding his humble origins and absolute absence of artistic references.
This is a rather bizarre stone building with opulent and irregular forms, reliefs, and decorations.
An unimaginable set of real-life bestiaries inhabits the castle’s insides and outsides: octopuses, elephants, hinds, caimans, bears, pelicans, and waterfowls, accompanied by mythological creatures like fairies, giants, and fantastic cultural quirks from all over the world.
The architectural style of the castle is unprecedented – it is highly favored by self-taught artists, outsiders, surrealists, and dadaists concurrently.
The monument is located in the Hauterives commune of France and is easily reachable both by bus and a private vehicle. It is accessible to the general public all-year-round, Sundays and holidays included. The only exceptions usually are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the short period from January 15 to January 31. Visitors are welcome to enjoy commented visits or full guided visits, lasting between half an hour and a full astronomical hour. At the end of your visit, you will be greeted in a charming souvenir shop where you can find various little treasures such as art objects and books, postcards, posters, and more.
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