by Martyn Davis
Chateau de Chantilly photo by Chti-Guillaume/Wikimedia
When going on holiday in France why not try visiting one of the famous castles in France, like Chateau de Chantilly. This beautiful palace was built in one of the largest forests in France. It covers an area of approximately 7,800 hectares plus it has a park of around 155 hectares. Since it is only an hour drive from Paris it makes this attraction very popular with tourists.
There are actually quite a few castles and chateaux situated near Paris and of course the most famous being the Chateau de Versailles. We thought we would take a look at one of the less known palaces, Chateau de Chantilly, with a phenomenal history and remarkable museums.
An interesting note is that Chantilly was the setting for the James Bond film “A View to a Kill” starring Roger Moore. Other places in Paris were in the film such as the Jules Verne restaurant at the Eiffel Tower.
Construction on the Chateau started in the Middle Ages, then it passed via inheritance from noble to noble that made improvements and built new structures. Then the Conde family eventually bequeathed the estate to the Duc d’Aumale, which brought the legacy to an end, when both his son’s died in battle.
Photo by tango7174/Wikimedia
Because of this, the Duc d’Aumale bequeathed the entire estate of Chantilly to the Institut de France on the condition that it was opened to the public as a museum. This happened a year after his death and its home to one of the finest museums of historical paintings in France called the Conde Museum. Besides the famous Louvre Museum, it is the only museum in France to have three Raphael paintings.
Inside the Chateau de Chantilly are numerous rooms housing a wonderful collection of antiques. Not only are there paintings, but rooms such as the Salon d’Orléans, which holds a rare collection of Chantilly porcelain. Plus there are the private rooms from the Duc and Duchesse d’Aumale, known as the Petits Appartements, that you can view just as they were. Other rooms to visit are the Cabinet des Livres or book room, a magnificent library that contains around 30,000 volumes. There are as many as 1,500 manuscripts including approximately 200 medieval manuscripts. The oldest one, which is the prized possession, actually dates from the 11th century.
Photo by tango7174/Wikimedia
Amongst the grounds of Chateau Chantilly that were designed by Andre le Notre are the Grand Stables, which is where you will find the Musee Vivant du Cheval also known as The Living Horse Museum. The 31 rooms of the Musee Vivant du Cheval, spans over a surface of 4,000 square metres. The Museum has an 800 metre track, and is one of the most visited equestrian centers in the world. They hold equestrian shows and demonstrations every day of the week except for Tuesday, which is when Chantilly estate is closed.
Photo by Arnaud25/Wikimedia
Admire beautiful fountains and a shimmering canal with a meandering a stroll to watch the swans, birds nesting and many other type of wildlife. Don’t miss some of the other impressive buildings such as the chapel or the Jeu de Paume, a tennis court that was one of the last to be built in France when construction began in 1756. Although now it is a museum room holding some very large paintings that would not fit anywhere else!
As previously mentioned Chateau de Chantilly is open every day except for a Tuesday, yet opens later in the evening during the summer months. To fully appreciate this incredible castle, try to make a point of spending a whole day on your visit.
About the Author:
www.placesinfrance.com - Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions - Chateau de Chantilly.
