Building a Dream: The Palais Idéal

The Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval is an architectural marvel that defies categorization. Built over 33 years by postman Ferdinand Cheval, this edifice boasts of a bewildering array of styles ranging from Hindu temple art to Gaudi's modernisme to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. As I roamed around this unusual structure, I found myself marveling at the ingenuity and single-minded passion that must have driven Cheval to build such a fantastical monument. Interestingly, Cheval collected stones during his daily mail rounds and decided to build the Palais after tripping over a particularly unique rock. Despite facing ridicule and skepticism, he remained undeterred and continued building his dream, even carrying bags of cement and lime on his bike to work on weekends.