The French Postman Who Built a Palace from Pebbles – Ferdinand Cheval

The Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval (the Ideal Palace of Postman Cheval) in Hauterives, France is an amazing testimony to determination and creativity.  This is the story of the French postman who built himself a palace from pebbles.

Are you or your children destined to be great? What defines greatness in today’s society? This is hotly debated and opinions are diverse. I think greatness is displayed by following your passion, contributing to society and leaving ‘your mark’ no matter how small. The story of Ferdinand Cheval shows how this French postman achieved greatness in his lifetime in a very unsuspecting way.

The story of Ferdinand Cheval resonates with me as my children are always putting pebbles, shells and unusual pieces of wood in their pockets or stuffing them in my handbag when we go for a walk. The ‘best’ are kept and displayed in flower pots or on our deck with pride.