In 1879, a French postman picked up a strange stone. Over the next 33 years, he built one of Europe's most extraordinary palaces by hand
- For 33 years, a French rural postman quietly spent his spare time collecting stones from the roadside, turning what began as a chance discovery into one of Europe's most unusual architectural landmarks.
- Joseph Ferdinand Cheval, better known as Ferdinand Cheval or Facteur Cheval, started building the Palais Idéal (Ideal Palace) in Hauterives, France, after stumbling across a strangely shaped stone during his postal route in April 1879.
- Without any architectural training, he worked on the monument until 1912, hauling rocks in a wheelbarrow after walking more than 30 kilometres each day deliverin
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- For 33 years, a French rural postman quietly spent his spare time collecting stones from the roadside, turning what began as a chance discovery into one of Europe's most unusual architectural landmarks.
- Joseph Ferdinand Cheval, better known as Ferdinand Cheval or Facteur Cheval, started building the Palais Idéal (Ideal Palace) in Hauterives, France, after stumbling across a strangely shaped stone during his postal route in April 1879.
- Without any architectural training, he worked on the monument until 1912, hauling rocks in a wheelbarrow after walking more than 30 kilometres each day deliverin
Sources: Times of India