Château de Chantilly: One of France’s Finest Day Trips
Forty kilometers north of Paris, the Château de Chantilly sits surrounded by water, forest, and gardens. It’s part palace, part museum, part equestrian estate – and one of France’s most rewarding day trips!
The Château de Chantilly is located in the town of Chantilly, in the Oise department of the Hauts-de-France region, about 40 kilometers north of Paris.
It sits on the edge of the Chantilly Forest, within the historic Valois area – a landscape of lakes, meadows, and woodland that has long attracted royalty and artists alike.
The Château
The current Château de Chantilly dates mostly from the 19th century, rebuilt by the Duke of Aumale after the Revolution destroyed much of the original. It stands on a moat, surrounded by reflective water that gives it a fairy-tale appearance.
Inside, it’s more intimate than Versailles but filled with grandeur – carved staircases, painted ceilings, and richly furnished salons that still feel lived in.
The Duke designed it as both a home and a museum, and every room reflects his obsession with art and history.
Visitors can explore the grand Galerie des Peintures, the private apartments, and the ornate reading room that holds rare manuscripts and books.
From the terrace, the view stretches over Le Nôtre’s gardens and the long Grand Canal, one of the most striking perspectives in northern France.
The Estate and Its Setting
The château stands within a 7,800-hectare forest and overlooks the 115-hectare park designed by André Le Nôtre, the same landscape architect who shaped Versailles.
The formal gardens stretch out with perfect symmetry – ten ornamental basins, fountains, statues, and a two-kilometer Grand Canal that mirrors the sky. In the summer, visitors can even rent small boats for a “flotille” on the canals.
Musée Condé
Inside the château, the Musée Condé holds one of France’s most important art collections, second only to the Louvre. The walls are lined with Raphaels, Poussins, Ingres, and Delacroix, all hung in dense 19th-century style.
Unlike most museums, the collection cannot be loaned out, so everything remains in Chantilly, including the precious manuscripts in the library.
Among these treasures is Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, the 15th-century illuminated manuscript often called the world’s most beautiful book.
From April to October 13, 2025, the château hosted the special exhibition Les Très Riches Œuvres du Duc de Berry, displaying rare works linked to this masterpiece for the first time in decades.
The Grand Stables and the Living Horse Museum
Across the canal stand the Grandes Écuries (Great Stables), an 18th-century marvel built for the Prince de Condé’s horses. The scale is astonishing: a monumental dome, marble stalls, and carved columns that look like a cathedral for horses.
Inside, the Musée Vivant du Cheval (Living Horse Museum) explores the history of horsemanship through art, saddles, and daily demonstrations.
Several times a week, riders perform equestrian shows in the dome arena, mixing classical dressage, acrobatics, and storytelling – a signature Chantilly experience.
Gardens by Le Nôtre
Le Nôtre’s 115 hectares of formal gardens combine water, geometry, and perspective on a grand scale.
The Grand Canal runs for two kilometers, flanked by tree-lined paths and vistas that change with every turn. Ten ornamental ponds reflect statues and pavilions, while the flotilles bring slow movement to the mirrored water.
In the spring and summer, the lawns are alive with picnickers and distant church bells from Chantilly village.
Monument Préféré des Français 2025
In 2025, the Château de Chantilly was voted Monument Préféré des Français (France’s Favorite Monument). This annual TV competition, hosted by Stéphane Bern on France 3, allows viewers to vote for their most beloved heritage sites.
Chantilly’s win reflects how deeply the château is woven into French culture – an architectural gem, a cradle of art, and a tribute to craftsmanship.
Visiting
From Paris, trains from Gare du Nord reach Chantilly-Gouvieux station in about 25 minutes. From there, it’s a short walk or a five-minute shuttle ride to the château entrance.
Drivers can follow the A1 toward Lille and exit at Chantilly; parking is available near the grounds.
Tickets include access to the château, gardens, and the Great Stables. Horse shows have separate dates and can be added when booking online.
A small train connects the gardens with the château for those who prefer not to walk. Several cafés and restaurants sit within the grounds, and the town of Chantilly itself has plenty of charming places for lunch – and yes, real Chantilly cream!