One Stone, One Dream
In 1879, Ferdinand Cheval, a mail carrier in southeastern France, stumbled over a strange stone during his rounds. It reminded him of a vivid dream he had years earlier—of building a palace. He began collecting stones daily and carried them home to start building. He worked alone, often by lamplight.
A Palace from the Earth
Cheval spent 33 years gathering rocks and constructing what he called the “Palais Idéal” in Hauterives. He used lime, mortar, and cement to shape walls, towers, arches, animals, temples, and carved figures. The structure blended Hindu, Christian, Egyptian, and other styles—none copied directly, as Cheval never traveled.
A Builder’s Message
He inscribed poems and phrases onto the walls. One reads: “1879–1912, 10000 days, 93000 hours, 33 years of struggle. Let those who think they can do better try.” The palace includes giant carved figures, a Temple of Nature, and intricate animal reliefs across its facades.
A Final Construction
When denied burial in the palace, Cheval spent eight more years building his own mausoleum in the local cemetery. He died in 1924, one year after its completion, and was buried there, having realized a vision built entirely by hand.
In 1879, French mail carrier Ferdinand Cheval tripped over a strangely shaped stone on his daily route.
That stumble awakened a long-forgotten dream of building a fantastical palace.
He returned to the spot, found more stones, and decided to build it by hand…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/yXwItCc33U
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 20, 2025