Old Photo

In 1899, the palace's east facade was finished after 20 years of relentless work. Ferdinand Cheval stands proudly at the top of his work while his wife Philomène and her dog Mignonne pose in front of the facade. The central fountain named La Source de Vie (The Source of Life) is where it all started. Postman Cheval frenetically added fountains, grottos, and temples by amassing stones, shells, and lime mortar. To the right of the photo, four columns evoke an Egyptian tomb in which he wanted to be buried with Philomène, but he was denied permission.