A day is just about the right amount of time to fully explore the domain! We all loved the very pleasant visit. Like its neighbors Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte, the château is beautifully furnished and well-preserved, but unlike its neighbors, in addition to the French gardens, you will visit an immense wooded park. And that’s what makes it our favorite!
The Château de Chantilly is the work of one man, Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale. A great collector, inside you will discover an incredible collection of art and paintings. It is one of the largest collections after the Louvre.
For an additional fee, you can visit the private apartments of the Duke and Duchess of Aumale on the ground floor. The library is sublime and houses one of the richest collections of books in France, perfectly preserved.
After your self-guided tour of the château, immerse yourself in the beauty of the park, its tranquility, the sounds of the streams, the waterfalls, the horses… before arriving at the hamlet and its lake, which inspired Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet at the Petit Trianon in Versailles, as well as the English garden and its picturesque constructions.
There is no shortage of activities in the park! Encounters with kangaroos, boat rides, a playground and maze, electric cart rentals, treasure hunts for children, and two restaurants!
Be sure to reserve your spot for the equestrian show held in the grand royal stables. These stables are also open for visits and include a museum on the history of stables and horsemanship.
The show is very beautiful and tells the story of the Domaine de Chantilly through scenes with actors, singers, and acrobats—the children were amazed! The Equestrian Company of the Great Stables also offers equestrian demonstrations included in the entrance ticket, while the show is an extra fee. However, we highly recommend it.
