In his early adventures Tintin lacks a place where he can safely return to after his travels. He lodges at 26 Labrador Street, but the place never seems to become a real home. This changes in Red Rackham's Treasure, when Captain Haddock buys Marlinspike Hall, the castle of his ancestors. Haddock moves from his appartment to Marlinspike Hall and although Tintin does not move in, the castle becomes a home base for the whole 'family': Haddock, Tintin, Prof. Calculus and Nestor.
In French the castle and the village nearby are called Moulinsart, an anagram of the Belgian village Sart-Moulin, which doesn't have a castle. Nevertheless, Marlinspike Hall is not entirely fictitious; Herge adapted the French Loire castle of Cheverny for his means. Dr. Kuifje visited Cheverny in March 2004 and reports in this article on his findings. READ MORE
