Château de Cheverny is the purest example of Louis XIII classical style in the Loire Valley, remarkable for being the only major château still owned and inhabited by its original noble family. It inspired Hergé's Moulinsart castle in the Tintin series; a Tintin exhibition occupies the estate outbuildings. The château maintains a working pack of 70 Franco-Poitevin hunting hounds fed daily.
Château de Cheverny occupies a singular position among Loire châteaux: it was built in a single campaign between 1625 and 1634, giving it an architectural consistency rare in a region where most great houses evolved over centuries. The white Bourré stone and blue-slate roofs have retained their original colour because the château has never been sold — it has passed directly within the Hurault family since 1388, and the current owners still reside in the private wing.
Adult admission is approximately €15.50 (~$17), which covers the château interior, the Tintin Secret of Moulinsart exhibition, and the estate grounds including the orangery and dog kennels. Under-7s enter free; children and students pay reduced rates. Tickets are available on-site only — no advance booking is possible. The château is open every day of the year: 9:15am–6:30pm in April–September (7pm in July–August); 10am–5pm in October–March. No reservations are needed.
The château interior is particularly fine: the Dining Room with original 17th-century painted ceiling panels, the Trophy Room with over 2,000 pairs of antlers from the estate hunts, the King's Chamber and the Tintin-inspired details visible throughout. The estate includes a boat ride on the moat pond (separate charge, ~€6.50/~$7 adults) and electric minibus circuit through the grounds.
The Tintin exhibition in the Orangery is a significant draw: Hergé visited Cheverny in the 1940s and based the exterior of Moulinsart castle directly on Cheverny's façade. The exhibition traces the connection with original drawings, Hergé's sketches, and models of scenes from the albums.
The daily dog feeding (soupe des chiens) takes place at 5pm in summer and 3pm in winter when the pack of 70 Franco-Poitevin hunting hounds is fed in the kennel enclosure — visitors crowd the viewing rail to watch. Cheverny is most naturally combined with Chambord (14km north) for a double-château day.
How to get there
- Mode
- Car
- Duration
- 20 min from Blois
- Cost
- Fuel ~€3–4 (~$3.25–4.30) one way
- Notes
- D765 south from Blois; free parking at the château
- Mode
- Bicycle
- Duration
- 1h from Blois
- Cost
- Bike rental €15–25/day (~$16–27)
- Notes
- Quiet country lanes; Cheverny is included in the Loire à Vélo signed network from Blois; terrain is gently rolling
- Mode
- Taxi from Blois
- Duration
- 20 min
- Cost
- €20–30 (~$22–33) one way
- Notes
- Taxis Blois: +33 (0)2 54 78 17 17; no direct public bus service to Cheverny
Suggested itinerary
- 09:15 Arrive at Cheverny at opening time and buy tickets on-site (no advance booking available). 09:30 Château interior: dining room painted ceiling, king's chamber, the guard room, and family chapel. 10:30 Trophy Room — 2,000 antler sets lining every wall from floor to ceiling. 11:00 Tintin exhibition (Secret of Moulinsart) in the orangery — allow 45 minutes for Tintin fans. 12:00 Lunch at Café du Château on the estate grounds (seasonal hours) or the village bakery in Cheverny. 13:30 Moat boat ride through the formal gardens (~25 min; €6.50/~$7 adults). 14:30 Estate walk: view the kennels and meet the Franco-Poitevin hounds. 17:00 (summer) / 15:00 (winter) Watch the daily soupe des chiens dog feeding at the kennel enclosure. 17:30 Depart towards Blois (20 min north) or Chambord (20 min north-east).
Location
Avenue du Château, 41700 Cheverny, France
47.5002, 1.4565 View on map
Highlights
- 17th-century interiors intact — original painted ceilings, tapestries, and furnishings
- Trophy Room: over 2,000 antler sets from centuries of estate hunting
- Tintin's Moulinsart: The Secret of Moulinsart exhibition in the orangery
- Daily dog feeding (soupe des chiens) of 70 Franco-Poitevin hunting hounds
- Boat ride on the château moat pond through formal gardens
Tips for visiting
- Time the visit to finish at the soupe des chiens (5pm in summer, 3pm in winter) when all 70 hounds are fed — this is one of Cheverny's most memorable experiences.
- Tickets must be purchased on-site; no advance booking is possible. Arrive at opening (9:15am) in July–August to avoid mid-morning crowds.
- Cheverny makes a natural pairing with Chambord (14km north, 20 min by car) for a double-château day — visit Cheverny from 9:15am to 1pm and Chambord from 2pm to 5pm.
- The Tintin exhibition appeals strongly to children and fans of the Hergé albums; allow 45–60 minutes rather than rushing through it.
- The moat boat ride (separate fee, ~€6.50/~$7) is a pleasant 25-minute circuit through the formal gardens and well worth the addition if the queue is short.
When to visit
April–October for gardens in season and the best light on the white stone façade. The daily soupe des chiens is the headline event at any time of year. Combine with Chambord for a full château day in any season.
Accessibility
The château ground floor is accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp at the main entrance. The upper floors require stairs and are not accessible. The estate grounds, orangery, and kennel viewing area are on flat terrain. Adapted toilets are available. Contact the château at +33 (0)2 54 79 96 29 for accessibility queries.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is Cheverny linked to Tintin?
Belgian cartoonist Hergé (Georges Remi) based the exterior of Moulinsart castle — Tintin's adventures home of Captain Haddock — directly on Château de Cheverny. Hergé visited the château and its symmetrical Louis XIII façade appears in the albums from 1943 onward. The château's orangery now houses 'The Secret of Moulinsart', a permanent Tintin exhibition with original Hergé drawings, storyboards, and models.
What is the soupe des chiens?
The soupe des chiens is the daily public feeding of Cheverny's pack of 70 Franco-Poitevin hunting hounds. At 5pm in summer (3pm in winter), the hounds are released into the kennel enclosure and fed from large troughs while visitors watch from a viewing rail. The pack is maintained as a working hunt and goes out regularly in the hunting season (autumn–winter). No additional charge; the feeding is included in the château ticket.
Is there public transport to Cheverny?
There is no direct public bus or train service to Cheverny village. A car is by far the easiest option (20 min from Blois). A taxi from Blois costs approximately €20–30 one way; Taxis Blois can be reached at +33 (0)2 54 78 17 17. Cyclists can reach Cheverny from Blois in about 1 hour on quiet country lanes included in the Loire à Vélo network.
How long does a visit to Cheverny take?
Allow 2.5–3 hours for the château interior, Tintin exhibition, and estate grounds. Adding the boat ride and waiting for the dog feeding extends a visit to 4–5 hours comfortably.
Can Cheverny be combined with Chambord in one day?
Yes, easily. The two châteaux are 14km apart (20 min by car) and both have long opening hours. A typical combined day: arrive Cheverny at 9:15am, depart by 1pm; arrive Chambord by 1:30pm, depart by 5pm. This is one of the most popular one-day château combinations in the Loire Valley.