The Château de Cheverny, its treasures and its 6 gardens to discover

In 2022, the Château de Cheverny, located in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, two hours from Paris, celebrates 100 years of being open to the public. Indeed, in 1922, Cheverny was the first private château to open its doors to visitors! 100 years later, it has lost none of its charm, and offers a wealth of discoveries and events to delight young and old alike.

When we visited during the Easter vacations, an incredible number of Easter decorations adorned the gardens and interior of the Château. It was also the end of flowering time for the tulip beds, which form an incredibly colorful carpet in spring.

On site, you'll discover a fabulous 100-hectare estate planted with trees and featuring no fewer than 6 themed gardens , ideal for strolls:

Le Potager blends flowers and seasonal vegetables.

The Apprentice Garden, a pleasure garden that occupies the former site of a long-gone formal garden, but whose original plans still exist.

La Jardin de l'Amour au bord de l'eau features six monumental bronze sculptures by Swedish sculptor Gudmar Olovson. A beautiful garden in homage to life, love and family.

The Tulip Garden, which in spring unveils 250,000 tulip bulbs over 250 m in length.

The Labyrinth, a playful garden where you can get lost and run around. It's so high up, you can't see over it. Can you find your way back?

The Sweet Garden , created during the containment period. This orchard of 370 trees and shrubs features apple, quince, cherry, persimmon, fig and other varieties.

Then, or before, we head for the château, a beautiful 17th-century monument. Inside, many unique pieces of furniture take us back into the history of the place. Château de Cheverny is renowned as one of the Loire Valley's finest furniture collections, with superb decoration and remarkable density.

This chateau, still inhabited by its owners, is particularly well preserved. The apartments on the 1st floor bear witness to the French art of living, with the Birth Room, Children's Room, Dining Room and Bride's Room.

In the Salle d'Armes, you'll discover 17th-century Gobelins tapestry and a chest of drawers made in the Boulle style during the reign of Louis XIV.

Lovers of literature, and of comic books in particular, are invited to delve into the story of Tintin. Indeed, it was Cheverny that inspired the cartoonist Hergé to create the Château de Moulinsart. A 700 m2 annex houses a permanent interactive exhibition entitled"Les Secrets de Moulinsart" (Moulinsart Secrets), which takes visitors from Moulinsart's underground passages to Professor Tournesol's laboratory, Tintin's bedroom and the château's dining room.

The Château also offers a guided tour of the forest estate, followed by a boat trip along the water. For 30 minutes, you'll discover the majestic hundred-year-old cedars and the elephant-footed Louisiana bald cypresses, which have the particularity of being immersed in water. An exotic walk that may lead you to stroke a tree for good luck... And watch out for crocodiles...

Last but not least, l'Orangerie, facing the Château gardens, serves picnics and hot dishes indoors or on the terrace. It's also the ideal spot to quench your thirst or enjoy a gourmet snack. Hot chocolates and homemade tartelettes tatin are yours for the taking.

In short, if you're looking for a complete stroll to discover monuments, gardens and exhibitions, you've come to the right place. As for the visit, it depends on your choice. You can opt for the gardens alone for 8€, for the gardens and château for 13.50€ or 8.50€ reduced, for the version with the bonusTintin exhibition for 18€ or 13.50€ reduced and for the complete version with exhibition, buggy and boat all included for 23€ or 18€ reduced. The version without the Tintin exhibition costs €18.50 or €14 discounted.

For the best deal, note that whatever ticket you choose, for 2 full-price adult tickets for grandparents and 2 reduced-price tickets for grandchildren, the cheapest reduced-price ticket is free. The gardens and château can be visited in 1 to 2 hours, while the full version will take 3 to 4 hours.

Thousands of tulips adorn the gardens of Château de Cheverny
In spring, the gardens of Château de Cheverny are decked out in magnificent colors thanks to the 250,000 tulips planted in the park. In April, if the government authorizes the reopening of the cultural sites, don't miss this incomparable spectacle of flowers. [Read more]

The Garden of Love at Château de Cheverny
Discover the Château de Cheverny and its Jardin de l'Amour on a stroll through the Châteaux de la Loire. Set in a hidden spot, this stroll features 6 sculptures by Gudmar Olovson, and the enchanting setting of its black swan lake. [Read more]