Lost to the Crown because of fraud to the State, Château Cheverny was donated by King Henri II to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. However, she preferred Château de Chenonceau and sold the property to the former owner's son, Philippe Hurault, who built the château between 1624 and 1630.
A stone staircase dated 1634 carved with trophies of arms and the arts leads to the Grand Appartements. A guard room with a collection of arms and armor leads to the Chambre du Roi, richly hung with five Paris tapestries after designs by Simon Vouet, representing the story of Ulysses.
A pack of some seventy dogs are also kept on the grounds and are taken out for hunts twice weekly.
