Paris1972-Versailles2003

This is an enchanting castle with lots of history other than the castle itself. One particular one we love for more than the castle but for Tintin and the hunting dogs is Cheverny It is located in the department of Loir et Cher No 41 in the region Centre-Val-de-Loire,and in my belle France, It is dans the forest abounding the Sologne. I happened to visited several times and one particular one during Christmas period, I decided to extract the pictures from other posts to do just one for this period, Therefore, let me tell you about Christmas at the Château de Cheverny !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Another fairy tale castle in the valley of the kings or Loire valley.  It is very interesting because its original furniture, and the wonderful decorations they do at Christmas time. To give you a visual tour at the Chateau de Cheverny,at its best period, Christmas, me think you begin by looking at the wonderful decorations in each of its rooms !

The decoration of the Chambre du Roi was entrusted to the most skilful craftsmen and the greatest artists of their time. On the walls are stretched eight large tapestries, made by the Paris factory. They represent, as was then customary in the time of Louis XIV, scenes inherited from mythology. The ceilings are richly decorated, with Italian-style coffers and paintings again taking up mythological themes. They are represented on the paneling 30 scenes inspired by the story of Théagène and Chariclee, also known as the Éthiopiques. A four-poster bed from the 15C, 1.60 meters wide and 2 meters long. You will also find a kneeler, intended for religious devotions, chairs dating from Louis XIII, several armchairs from the Louis XIV period covered with sumptuous Aubusson tapestries.

The chapel, or oratory, is surprising for its small size, but also and above all for the originality of the flamboyant Gothic style chosen by the builder, a style far removed from the building which houses it with Louis XIII decorations). For the record, you should know that this oratory was only completed at the end of the 19C. The location had been reserved from the start, but only the vault had been executed, the columns which should have supported it not having been made. Characteristic of the flamboyant Gothic style, the main vault is made up of two bays with ribbed vaulting, with transverse beams, etc, The two main keystones are pendant on three floors , the pendent key was also called “cul de lampe”), another characteristic of the Flamboyant style which only appeared in the 15C

You go in by the Salle à Manger or dining room, from the 19C now but decoration of the 17C, with leather ceilings! and a bust of king Henri IV, you see on the wall Cervantes Don Quijotes with very impressive arms of the family,and a dining table for 30 seatings. Then you take the stairs, or l’Escalier d’Honneur, with a renaissance influence richly decorated in white stone and style Louis XIII, and hunting heads in wood. Going up to the appartements Privés  or private apartments, that were occupied as little back as 1985. Here you have the Chambre jaune or birth bedroom, then the Petit Boudoir Rouge, small ladies room, Chambre d’enfants with the first horse models of the Napoleon III era as well as portraits of the owner family. The chambre des Mariés with the wedding clothing of the current owners including a bathtub of the 19C, the Salle à manger familiale is the place where the family ate and decorated as if it is waiting for guests; and the Petit Salon, with miniature potraits of the owner family in a glass cabinet.

The Salle d’Armes ,the biggest in the castle with decoration of origin from the 17C, a great wooden chimney and tapestries of Gobelins of the 17C showing events of the war of Troy in Greece. It has a collection of weapons from the 15C to 17C, lots of swords, arquebuses, and vaults of travels from the 17C. It has a covering thread in leather of Cordoba with the arms of France and Navarra that once belongs to king Henri IV and weights 70 kg (about 154 pounds). You go into the Chambre du Roi or king bedroom, a luxurious room! with decoration of the greatest adventures of romance, painting of Persia and Andromeda, 30 scenes of the tragic loves of Théagéne and Chariclée (French names sorry). 6 tapestries from the 17C with work of Ulyses hero of Odyssée. A huge bed of 2 meters by 1,60 meters ( 6.60x 5.3 ft) and chairs from Louis XIII, and sofas of Louis XIV with tapestries of Aubusson. You go to the small Vestibule with a nice Flanders tapestry of the 17C to go into the Grand Salon, the work of the owner for over 150 years with the best collection in the castle, portraits of the family, including the parents of Henri IV as well as the folks link to the castle such as Louis XII and queen Anne of Austria etc. Painting of Ferdinand I brother and successor of emperor Charles V, the furniture from the 17C and 18C and other wonders of the time to see, its just overpowering.

You continue the visit of the castle into the Galerie, many paintings of the family from great masters of the 17C and an original document signed by General George Washington USA, talking about one of the ancestors of the current owner that fought alongside Lafayette and Rochambeau during the war of Independance of the United States! ou go thru the Petit Salon, more family portraits alongside a chimney as well as period furniture.  This takes you to the Library or Bibliothéque with over 2000 ancient books done in different leathers with furniture from the Premier Empire and office desk signed by Jacob, the purveyor of them to Napoleon Ier.  You come now to the end into the Salon des Tapisseries, with 5 tapestries of Flanders from the 17C huge tapestries! with different motifs as well as furniture from Louis XIV and Louis XV, and a huge clock from the 18C still marking time as hours,minutes,seconds, day, date, and phases of the moon.

The official Château de Cheverny for Christmas 2026: https://www.chateau-cheverny.fr/en/events/christmas-at-the-castle

The official Loire Valley tourist office on the Château de Cheverny:  https://www.loirevalley-france.co.uk/discover/loire-chateaux/chateau-cheverny/

The Val de Loire Loir et Cher dept 41 tourist office on the Château de Cheverny:  https://www.val-de-loire-41.com/les-chateaux-de-la-loire/le-chateau-de-cheverny/

There you go folks, another beautiful historical magical castle in the wonderful Loire Valley at the best time ,again, Christmas. Always amazing things to see and  Cheverny  should be on the top list of any, Do enjoy this castle and do plan to come during the Christmas period; good for the whole family. Again, hope you enjoy this post on Christmas at the Château de Cheverny !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!