Discover the best top things to do in Chantilly, France including Chateau de Chantilly, Hippodrome Princes de Conde, Pavillon de Manse, Le Potager des Princes, The Living Museum of the Horse.
Restaurants in Chantilly
4.5 based on 3,158 reviews
Le Domaine de Chantilly s'etend sur 7 800 hectares au sein de l'une des plus grandes forets des environs de Paris. Il est compose du chateau et de son musee Conde, du parc et de ses jardins, des grandes ecuries et de leur musee du cheval. Constitue depuis le Moyen-Age par les differents proprietaires (Anne de Montmorency, les Bourbon-Conde dont le Grand Conde, cousin de Louis XIV, Henri d'Orleans, duc d'Aumale), cet ensemble represente donc un patrimoine aux facettes multiples et le plus grand exemple en France d'un domaine princier. Le chateau abrite le Musee Conde, lequel est constitue des appartements princiers, d'une collection exceptionnelle de peintures - plus de 800 chefs d'oeuvres d'artistes tels que Botticelli, Raphael, Poussin, Delacroix - qui en fait le premier musee de peintures anciennes (avant 1850) en France apres le musee du Louvre et d'une bibliotheque et d'archives qui conservent plus de 13 000 ouvrages dont le manuscrit le plus precieux au monde : "Les Tres Riches Heures du duc de Berry". Le parc offre quant a lui un panorama grandiose de l'art du jardin occidental : jardin a la francaise dessine par Le Notre au XVIIe siecle, le Hameau qui inspira Marie-Antoinette, le jardin anglo-chinois du XVIIIe siecle, et le jardin anglais du XIXe siecle.
A short rail trip from Pairs, Chantilly offers so much but doesn't suffer from the crowds at the more famous attractions. The Chateau is stunning. The excellent free audio guide offers a fantastic tour allowing a deep insight into life in the Chateau and an appreciation of the exceptional art collection. The Psyche windows are amazing. The gardens are huge and offer something for everyone. Take your time and soak them up. Finally, the stables are breathtaking and highlight the opulence of the time.
4.5 based on 91 reviews
On the Nonette River, in the heart of Chantilly, the Pavillon de Manse was built at the end of the 17th century by the Prince of Condé and transformed during the 19th century by the duke of Aumale. Designed by J.H Mansart and listed as an historic monument, the old mill houses the Prince of Condé's Machine des Grandes Eaux (1679) and the Duke of Aumale's hydraulic machinery room.
Recently rehabilitated, it's simply beautiful. There was a lot to see with regards to the architecture, the history of the place makes it all the more interesting.
4.5 based on 351 reviews
Have a nice time with your family, in a historic park turned into a symphony of gardens. With major work , this listed park " Outstanding Garden " found his soul. As the 17th and 18th centuries , you will discover waterfalls and fountains, a flower garden , an exotic garden , orchards, topiaries ... In 2013, Yves and Annabel Bienaime create a real zoo : Throughout the walk , discover a conservatory backyard breeds ( rabbits, sheep, chickens, goats , pony, donkey, miniature horse , ...). You will assist with your children in activities: running rabbits, hens race and orchestra , the work of a dog). Big or small, simple walkers , keen on botany, gardening enthusiasts , painter or theater , you will necessarily seduced by Le Potager des Princes - Animal Park and Anime !
4.0 based on 859 reviews
A masterpiece of 18th century architecture, the Great Stables of the Domaine de Chantilly were built by the architect Jean Aubert for Louis-Henri de Bourbon, the 7th prince of Condé. They are a veritable horses' palace. The building houses the Museum of the Horse, which presents the relationship between men and horses since the beginning of civilisation. The Great Stables offer equestrian shows throughout the year, devoted to the art of haute-école horse training which has been contributing to Chantilly's international renown for more than 30 years.
This is an amazing place. I did it as a (comfortable) day trip from Paris. There has been a chateau on this site from 1400; the stables, built around 1600 and originally housing 230 horses, now house about 30 horses and a comprehensive horse museum. The building is set in front of the famous Chantilly racecourse. You start by looking at the real horses who live there - beautiful Lusitanos and Holsteins, donkeys and ponies including miniature shetlands. They have their names, breeds and characteristics on their doors, although you are asked not to touch them. As you walk around you are also admiring the historical stables, cobbles and carvings in this spectacular building. Then you walk through the museum exhibition - a series of rooms dedicated to all things horse, with artwork, historical harness and tack, antique books with tips on training and grooming, and carriages. Then there is the original indoor school where the team give regular dressage and historical dress demonstrations; the dressage training is of very high standard and the showmanship is impressive. The horses are obviously well loved and cared for with priority for their comfort. There is a cafe if you want to sit and eat, or a picnic area outside by the warm up arena, which is where I sat and watched the horses warming up while eating my lunch. Getting to Chantilly is an easy train journey from Gare du Nord - 25 minutes. You can walk from the station to the Domaine (very well signposted, beautiful walk through forest). There are buses too from the bus station right next door to the trains. I have poor spoken French, but I had no difficulties at all getting around. The town is small and pretty, with friendly brasseries and antique shops. I can't recommend this place enough! Granted, I am a horse lover, but I think there's enough for non horsey people to enjoy too. My only criticism is that the dressage display schedule wasn't available on the website, so i couldn't plan my visit around it. The display narration is also all in French, so with my poor language skills I didn't understand alot of it. I spent 4 hours at the Musee du Cheval; I didn't visit the Chateau on that day because the rooms were closed for refurb, so if you are doing the horses, chateau and gardens you would need the best part of a day. Don't miss it, though - the whole experience is better then Versailles, and has the advantage of being less packed with tourists. No queues, peaceful and beautiful.
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