The Palais Idéal is among the best known visionary sites in the world. It is quite possible this creation inspired other outsiders (in France and elsewhere) to make their creations and it is quite sure that it aroused the interest of mainstream artists and writers (like André Breton, who discovered the Palais in 1931).
Life and works
Joseph Ferdinand Cheval (1836-1924) lived in Hauterives, south of Lyon, in France. He was a postman (in french a facteur), whose job it was to distribute the post to the inhabitants of his district, doing this by feet, walking trips of 32 km.
The story has been told many times: one day doing his 32 kms, he stumbled upon a rock, he was surprised by its form and came upon the idea to realise the dream he sometimes had during his post distributing tours: to create a beautiful building.
This is what he started to do in 1879. He went on with this creative job for 33 years, all by himself, just using simple utensils.
In 1912 his creation was finished: a building 26 m (85 ft) long, 14 m (46 ft) deep and between 8 and 10 m 26/33 ft) high.
picture René Stout, on Flickr
Cheval had said he wanted to be buried in his Palais, but authorities would not allow this, so on the local cemetery he also constructed a tomb, that took him some 8 years to finish.
He has been buried there in 1924.
Recognition
It took some time before official France acknowledged the importance of facteur Cheval´s achievement, but in 1969 the site was, notwithstanding opposition, declared a Monument Historique.
It took some more time before the national Musée de la Poste did honour facteur Cheval, but in 2007 an exposition in this Paris museum was organised in respect to his life and creative work.
Owned by the city of Hauterives since 1994, the site attracts more than 100.000 visitors a year. It can be visited daily.
Documentation
The internet has a lot of information on the Palais Idéal. I just mention some sources:
* The french couple Clovis and Claude Prévost made the film: Le facteur Cheval, où le songe devient réalité (the dream becomes reality), 2001, 26'37" (can be ordered through INA-France)
* A recent video (uploaded jan 2010 to Youtube) has been made by the Moscow Museum of Outsider Art.
(russian spoken).
* Another video on Youtube (by Louandanded, 4' 26", english spoken)).
* Following this link you will find more youtube videos dealing with the Palais Ideal
The internet has a lot of information on the Palais Idéal. I just mention some sources:
* The french couple Clovis and Claude Prévost made the film: Le facteur Cheval, où le songe devient réalité (the dream becomes reality), 2001, 26'37" (can be ordered through INA-France)
* A recent video (uploaded jan 2010 to Youtube) has been made by the Moscow Museum of Outsider Art.
(russian spoken).
* Another video on Youtube (by Louandanded, 4' 26", english spoken)).
* Following this link you will find more youtube videos dealing with the Palais Ideal
Joseph Ferdinand (Facteur) Cheval
le Palais Ideal
26389 Hauterives, Drome, FR
can be visited the year round
can be visited the year round
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