One hour from Paris, the Château de Chantilly in Oise is one of France's heritage gems. This former prince's residence is divided into two parts. On one side is the 16th-century Petit Château, and on the other is the 19th-century Grand Château. The beauty and richness of this building are partly the work of Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale, heir of the last Prince of Condé. A keen collector and fervent book-lover, he turned the château into a real art and history museum. The Condé Museum houses a prestigious collection of old paintings, second only to the Louvre. At the Duke's request, the presentation has stayed the same since the 19th century! A place for reading and working, the reading room was one of Henri d'Orléans' favourite rooms. There you can admire thousands of works including medieval manuscripts, most of them illuminated, with the oldest dating back to the 11th century. The princely suites are also lavishly furnished and decorated with objects and paintings by great artists.
Outside, take the time to stroll through the huge 115-hectare park and admire the parterres in Le Nôtre's French formal garden, the Grand Canal, the English garden, Sylvie's house next to a pond, and the charming Hamlet, with its five picturesque little houses nestling in the heart of the Anglo-Chinese garden, where you can sample the real crème Chantilly (sweetened whipped cream).
The Living Museum of the Horse, located in the Great Stables, is a fun and interactive museum with 200 exhibits on the theme of the horse and its history. It also hosts equestrian shows to delight children and adults.
