Château de Cheverny, near Blois, is open 365 days a year, including December 25, January 1 and May 1, and its tickets are sold on site only, with no booking. Château and gardens admission costs €15.50 for an adult. Owned by the same family for more than six centuries, it inspired Hergé’s Château de Moulinsart (Marlinspike Hall), to which a permanent exhibition is devoted. We matched the official hours with sunset times and calculated the distances to Chambord, Blois and Beauval. In town, Château de Blois, its hours and prices, is easy to visit on the same day as Cheverny.
Cheverny is one of the châteaux in our guide to visiting the Loire Valley, to be combined with Chambord.
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Château de Cheverny: key facts
- Ticket office and château hours: 10 am–5 pm from October 1 to March 31; 9:15 am–6 pm from April 1 to September 30 (6:30 pm from July 1 to August 31); gardens until 5:30 pm in winter — checked on 16 October 2026 on chateau-cheverny.fr
- Closing day: none, open every day of the year
- Full price: château and gardens €15.50 adult, €11.50 reduced, free under 7; with the Tintin exhibition €20.50 — checked on 16 October 2026 on chateau-cheverny.fr
- Booking: not possible for individuals; tickets on site only (no online sales) — checked on 16 October 2026 on chateau-cheverny.fr
- Time needed: 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes for château and gardens; 3 to 4 hours for the complete visit
- Prices recorded on 16 October 2026, subject to change: check before you go.
Tickets: on site only
A rare case among the major châteaux: Cheverny sells no tickets online. Any site offering a « booking » of an individual admission ticket for Cheverny is therefore reselling a service (transport, excursion), not an official ticket. Four options are offered at the ticket office:
| Option | Adult | Reduced rate | Under 7 | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Château and gardens | €15.50 | €11.50 | Free | 1 h 30 to 1 h 45 |
| Château, gardens + « Les Secrets de Moulinsart » exhibition | €20.50 | €16 | Free | 2 h 15 to 2 h 30 |
| Château, gardens + guided discovery of the park (electric boat and car, April–November 11) | €21 | €16.50 | €4 | 2 h 30 to 2 h 45 |
| Complete visit (château, gardens, Moulinsart, park) | €26 | €21 | €4 | 3 to 4 h |
The reduced rate applies, with proof, to adults from large families, children aged 7 to 14, high-school students, students under 25 and job seekers. Holders of a disability card enter free (€4 with the park discovery), and their companion pays the full rate. Grandparents offer: for 2 full-price adults and 2 grandchildren at the reduced rate, the cheapest reduced ticket is free. The Privilege card (€63, €40 at the reduced rate) gives unlimited access for a year.
Destination de Voyage calculation: the Tintin exhibition adds €5 to the château and gardens ticket, the park discovery €5.50, and the complete visit costs €10.50 more than the basic ticket for an adult.
Hours by season
| Period | Ticket office and château | Moulinsart exhibition | Gardens |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 – March 31 | 10 am – 5 pm | 10 am – 12:45 pm and 1:45 pm – 5 pm | until 5:30 pm |
| April 1 – June 30 | 9:15 am – 6 pm | 9:15 am – 12:45 pm and 1:45 pm – 6 pm | not specified |
| July 1 – August 31 | 9:15 am – 6:30 pm | 9:15 am – 12:45 pm and 1:45 pm – 6:30 pm | not specified |
| September 1 – 30 | 9:15 am – 6 pm | 9:15 am – 12:45 pm and 1:45 pm – 6 pm | not specified |
| October 1 – December 31 | 10 am – 5 pm | 10 am – 12:45 pm and 1:45 pm – 5 pm | until 5:30 pm |
The guided discovery of the forest park and the canal runs from April to November 11 (until November 1 according to the calendar displayed in October 2026). The château is heated in winter.
Best time to visit Cheverny
| Month (15th) | Ticket office closes | Sunset | Max temp at Tours | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 pm | 5:29 pm | 7.7 °C (46 °F) | 11.0 |
| February | 5 pm | 6:17 pm | 9.0 °C (48 °F) | 9.8 |
| March | 5 pm | 6:59 pm | 12.9 °C (55 °F) | 9.3 |
| April | 6 pm | 8:43 pm | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 8.9 |
| May | 6 pm | 9:24 pm | 19.6 °C (67 °F) | 9.0 |
| June | 6 pm | 9:53 pm | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 7.6 |
| July | 6:30 pm | 9:47 pm | 25.9 °C (79 °F) | 6.7 |
| August | 6:30 pm | 9:06 pm | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 6.6 |
| September | 6 pm | 8:07 pm | 22.1 °C (72 °F) | 7.5 |
| October | 5 pm | 7:06 pm | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 9.8 |
| November | 5 pm | 5:18 pm | 11.4 °C (53 °F) | 11.4 |
| December | 5 pm | 5:03 pm | 8.1 °C (47 °F) | 11.5 |
How to read it: from November to January the ticket office closes at 5 pm, almost exactly at sunset (between 5:03 and 5:29 pm by our calculation): arrive before 3 pm to enjoy the gardens in daylight. From April to September the hours are longest and the boat discovery of the park is offered. The estate decorates château and gardens in spring, in fall (chrysanthemums and squashes from October 15 to November 1, 2026) and for Christmas. In case of heavy crowds, the rules allow access to be suspended temporarily.
And the pack of hounds?
Cheverny is often associated with its pack of hunting hounds and the « dogs’ soup » feeding. However, the official website, consulted on October 16, 2026, mentions neither the kennel nor any feeding in its hours, prices or activities, and its FAQ states that pets are not admitted on the estate. Do not build your visit around this moment: ask at the ticket office.
What to see and suggested route
- The interiors (40 minutes on your own with the 11-page booklet): 17 rooms on three levels, including the great dining room with its 34 panels painted by Jean Mosnier, the king’s bedroom, the armory, the private apartments and the chapel.
- The six themed gardens, including the bouquet garden and the Jardin Sucré, a one-hectare (2.5-acre) orchard created in 2020.
- « Les Secrets de Moulinsart »: an immersive 700 m² (7,535 sq ft) Tintin experience made with the Hergé Foundation; air-conditioned.
- The forest park by buggy, then the canal by electric boat (30 minutes): avenue of 157 cedars, bald cypresses.
- In a hurry? The château « at a run » can be visited in 30 minutes according to the official website.
Distances from Cheverny
| From Cheverny to | Straight-line distance |
|---|---|
| Château de Blois | 13 km (8 mi) |
| Château de Chambord | 14 km (9 mi) |
| ZooParc de Beauval | 29 km (18 mi) |
| Château de Chenonceau | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Clos Lucé (Amboise) | 36 km (22 mi) |
Chambord and Cheverny are easy to visit on the same day; ZooParc de Beauval needs at least a whole day on its own.
Getting there
- Car: 2 hours from Paris (190 km, or 118 mi), A10 exit no. 17 Blois then toward Romorantin-Lanthenay; three free parking lots (P1, P2, P3 for motorhomes) — checked on 16 October 2026 on chateau-cheverny.fr
- Train + shuttle: Blois-Chambord station (1 hour 40 minutes from Paris-Austerlitz) or Vendôme-Villiers-sur-Loir; Azalys shuttle from Blois station from early April to early November.
- Bike: on the Loire à Vélo route; free parking at the entrance, bikes not allowed on the estate.
Accessibility
According to the official FAQ, access to the château is by a flight of 10 steps with no ramp; the ground floor is level and the first floor is reached by the grand staircase (2 landings of 16 steps). Paths are gravel or earth; it is 225 m (738 ft) from the ticket office to the château. Strollers stay at the château entrance, in a dedicated area. All restrooms have a baby-changing table.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Looking for an online ticket: there is none for individuals.
- Bringing your dog: pets are not admitted.
- Arriving after 4 pm in winter: ticket office closes at 5 pm.
- Riding a bike into the estate: not allowed, bike parking at the entrance.
- Filming for commercial use: photos and videos are allowed for private use only.
- Planning the park discovery in winter: it runs only from April to November.
What to see nearby
Our guide to things to do in the Loire Valley presents all the châteaux. Direct neighbors: Château de Chambord, the Clos Lucé in Amboise and, for families, ZooParc de Beauval. For entry requirements, see entry requirements for France.
History: a château still lived in
The estate has belonged for more than 600 years to the same family, the Huraults, advisers to the kings Louis XII, Francis I, Henry III and Henry IV. The château has been open to visitors since 1922 and is still lived in all year by its owners, which explains the rooms that are still furnished.
What to do around Cheverny
After the visit, the Loir-et-Cher tourist office lists several activities nearby:
- the little animals’ farm at Château de Villesavin, for children;
- canoe rental on the Beuvron;
- bike rides on the château routes, or with a donkey;
- wine tastings at a winegrower’s.
Frequently asked questions
Is Château de Cheverny still lived in?
Yes: it has belonged to the Hurault family for more than 600 years and its owners live there all year; it has been open to visitors since 1922.
What is the admission price of Château de Cheverny?
€15.50 for an adult (château and gardens), €11.50 at the reduced rate, free under 7; €20.50 with the Tintin exhibition (recorded on 16 October 2026 on the official website).
Can you book tickets for Cheverny?
No: tickets are sold on site only, with no booking. Only groups book.
What are the opening hours of Château de Cheverny?
10 am–5 pm from October to March, 9:15 am–6 pm from April to September, until 6:30 pm in July–August. Open every day of the year.
How long does it take to visit Cheverny?
1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes for the château and gardens, 3 to 4 hours for the complete visit with the Tintin exhibition and the park.
What is the link between Cheverny and Tintin?
Hergé drew inspiration from Château de Cheverny to draw Moulinsart (Marlinspike Hall); the permanent exhibition « Les Secrets de Moulinsart » tells the story.
Our sources
- Cheverny estate (chateau-cheverny.fr): practical information, prices and hours, FAQ, how to get there, visiting rules, château, park and estate presentation pages, consulted on 16 October 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 normals, Tours station (maximum temperature, precipitation, rainy days), as used on our Loire Valley page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the Wikidata coordinates of Château de Cheverny (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Wikidata: coordinates of Château de Cheverny (Q1141846) and the sites mentioned
- Cheverny town hall (mairie-cheverny.com): « Château de Cheverny » page (Hurault family, opening in 1922), consulted on 16 October 2026; Val de Loire – Loir-et-Cher (val-de-loire-41.com): « What to do around Cheverny », consulted on 16 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.