Not far from Chantilly forest, discover Senlis, a medieval town in Oise with a remarkable architectural and cultural heritage! An ideal place for a leisurely stroll, the old town reveals cobbled streets lined with mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries along with some beautiful houses. These streets are in fact named after medieval trades. With its many transformations over the centuries, the Cathedral of Our Lady has become an example of the changing Gothic style. To see this, you need only compare the 12th-century main façade with the 16th-century latticework façade. A magnificent Gothic spire rising to a height of 78 metres stands atop it, and it also has a large, carved portal and some of France's finest tribunes.
Another of Senlis' heritage buildings is the royal castle. It is an integral part of French history since it is the place where Hugh Capet was made King of the Franks. But the origins of the town go back even further, 2,000 years ago, as evidenced by the Gallo-Roman wall built in the 3rd century, 800 m long and still retaining 16 of the 30 original towers, or the semi-excavated arenas from the 1st century, which could fit in about 8,000 people who came to watch gladiatorial and animal combat.
Built at the request of Hugh Capet's wife, the Royal Chapel of St. Frambourg, restored thanks to the Hungarian pianist György Cziffra, is interesting due to its 10th-century crypt, Gothic nave and superb stained glass windows by Joan Miró. The Church of St. Peter, meanwhile, stands out thanks to its Renaissance tower and Flamboyant Gothic façade.
On the edge of the Aunette Valley, the ecological park is perfect for a walk in a green setting while admiring the fauna and flora living around the natural marshes
