The Palais Idéal is a fascinating structure built by a postman (Ferdinand Cheval) on a plot of land behind his back garden from rocks and stones he collected daily on his 32 kilometre round.

Carrying baskets of stones on his back, he gathered them into 40 kilo small heaps then came back to fetch them at night with his wheel barrow.

He started in 1879 and it took him thirty years to complete.

The dimensions are:  Length: 26 metres.  Width:  14 metres.  Height:  12 metres.

There are various inscriptions throughout based on religions and others that are purely humanitarian.

'Someone who dies is a setting star which will rise ever more radiant in another hemisphere'

'Strong and weak are levelled when confronted with death'

'This monument was built by a peasant'

With stairs and turrets and depictions of a whole wildlife menagerie it is the realisation of a vision (or dream, opinions differ) he had.

He was totally self taught as an architect and stone-mason, learning through his own inspiration.  He regarded himself a peasant, ignorant in the arts and often surprised by what he created.

A bit tricky to get to, it has taught me to prepare.

A website:  www.france-random.com/escapades/ferdinand_cheval/pagesen/fc9.shtml  

Click here to see my photographs of the Palais Idéal

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