Chantilly
Chantilly, located about 24 miles north of Paris, is a peaceful town, best known as the site of the beautiful, 15th century Chateau de Chantilly. The region, home to over 35,000 residents, is also the site of the World War I Battle of the Somme as well as one of France's most popular race tracks and polo fields. The Chateauċ de Chantilly Chantilly Castle, shown above, was the ancestral home of the Condes, cousins to the French royal family, and is located in the heart of the town of Chantilly. The castle is actually two separate structures. The Grand Chateau, built in late 15th century, was razed immediately following the French Revolution and rebuilt around 1870. The adjacent and smaller Petit Chateau was built in 1560. Today, the property is owned by the Insitut de France, who maintains it and opens it to the public.The site is noted for its extensive art collection housed in the Musee Conde, one of the finest groups of French historic landscape paintings outside of the Louvre. Also impressive are the Grand Stables, built to rival the main palace by one of the Conde princes who believed he would be reincarnated as a horse. The estate's library houses some 12,000 volumes and 700 manuscripts, including a Gutenberg Bible. Grand Chateau, built in the late 15th century, was razed immediately following the French Revolution and rebuilt around 1870. The adjacent and smaller Petit Chateau was built in 1560. Today, the property is owned by the Insitut de France, who maintains it and opens it to the public.The site is noted for its extensive art collection housed in the Musee Conde, one of the finest groups of French historic landscape paintings outside of the Louvre. Also impressive are the Grand Stables, built to rival the main palace by one of the Conde princes who believed he would be reincarnated as a horse. The estate's library houses some 12,000 volumes and 700 manuscripts, including a Gutenberg Bible. The Chateau's formal gardens, originally designed by Andre le Notre (the landscape designer at Versailles), have been restored to their former glory and include several parterres, numerous water features, and a symmetrical English garden. World War I Battlefields The countryside surrounding Chantilly was the site of one of the largest and fiercest battles in World War I the Battle of the Somme. This four-month battle, begun on July 1, 1916, resulted in over one million French, British, and German casualties. Today, the peaceful fields of Picardy belie the violent events of the "Great War." A new visitor's center, built partially underground so as not to disturb the battlefield, help to tell visitors the story of those gruesome months. Chantilly Lace and other Local Specialties Chantilly is well known for its eponymous, delicate handmade bobbin lace, produced in this region since the 17th century. The area also gives its name to a rich vanilla-flavored cream, the essential ingredient of many classic French desserts. Visiting Chantilly Chantilly is about an hour's drive from the heart of Paris. Alternately, it is an easy trip on the RER commuter trains from the Gare du Nord. From the train station, the Chateau de Chantilly operates free shuttles to the castle. Visitors to the battlefields are best advised to rent a car for the day. Resource For more information, click on Chantilly. This is the official website for Chateau de Chantilly.
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