Located in a forest and less than 1 hour from Paris, the Château de Chantilly is one of the jewels of French heritage. It houses the largest collection of old paintings after the Louvre, some of the most beautiful stables in Europe (shows and equestrian activities all year round), a magnificent park with many activities, not to mention the famous Chantilly cream workshops! This castle-museum unique in France offers its visitors a concentrate of French art de vivre and offers entertainment for the whole family. An unforgettable visit to an exceptional site!
Despite its royal appearance, Chantilly never belonged to the kings of France, but rather to the noble families that were often related to the monarch.
After having rebelled against his cousin, King Louis XIV, Louis II de Bourbon-Condé (1621-1686), also known as Le Grand Condé, was advised by Louis XIV to go and “relax” in Chantilly. He used this time to his advantage by transforming the territory by enlisting the famous architect, André Le Nôtre, to design the gardens.
The Revolution did not spare Chantilly. Its incredible collections were seized and transported to the Louvre. After having been used as a prison, the buildings were sold in 1799, and the great chateau demolished and the park ravaged.
The Napoleonic era over, Prince Louis-Joseph returned to France and had the chateau partially restored and equally succeeded in recovering some of the collections from the Louvre.