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From the Middle ages when construction started on this chateau,
it passed via inheritance from person to person through different branches of the same
family where they were all related in one way or another, and each heir had improvements
and new structures built. That is, until it came to the Conde family who eventually
bequeathed the estate to the Duc d'Aumale. But this is where the legacy came to an
end, as both his Son's had died in battle at the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. So
the Duc d'Aumale bequeathed the entire estate of Chantilly to the Institut de France on
the condition that it was opened to the public as a museum, and this is exactly what
happened a year after his death.
Although the history of Chateau de Chantilly
is fascinating in itself and there is so much that one can learn about this magnificent
palace, but what most people don't realise is that it is home to one of the finest museums
of historical paintings in France called the Conde
Museum. In fact, it is the only museum in France to have three Raphael paintings not
including The Louvre, which is probably the most
famous of all the museums in France.
Cabinet des Livres or book room is actually a magnificent library, that contains around
30,000 volumes and also includes about 1,500 manuscripts of which there are around 200
medieval manuscripts, many of which are illuminated and the oldest one actually dates from
the 11th century, which is the prized possession.
Within the Chateau de Chantilly there are numerous rooms housing a wonderful collection of
antiques, not just paintings, such as the Salon d'Orl?ans, which holds a fantastic and
rare collection of Chantilly porcelain, plus there are the private rooms from the Duc and
Duchesse d'Aumale, known as the Petits
Appartements, that you can view just as they were.
Back then the majority of us were still suffering filling up a tin bath from water heated
over a wood burning fire, but incredibly, after the year 1886, the Petits Appartements
were centrally heated, lit by gas and there was hot and cold running water in the
bathroom!
Within the grounds of Chateau Chantilly there are the Grand Stables, which is where you
will find the Musee Vivant du Cheval
also known as The Living Horse Museum. The 31 rooms of the Musee Vivant du Cheval,
spanning over a surface of 4,000 square metres and having an 800 metre track, this museum
is one of the most visited equestrian places in the world and a must-see for all horse
lovers.
Plus, as an added bonus they hold equestrian shows and demonstrations with horses and
riders every day of the week except for Tuesday, which is when the whole of the Chantilly
estate is closed and you even have the chance to book themed dinner shows, such as for
Christmas festivities.
Andre Le Notre designed the gardens at this
castle with beautiful fountains and the canal, just as he had for other palaces like
the Chateau de Versailles. Also in the grounds you can see the Jeu de Paume, which
was a real tennis court and one of the last to be built in France when construction began
in 1756, but this is now a museum room holding some very large paintings that would not
fit anywhere else! There are also other buildings such as a chapel and the grounds
are a great place for a stroll to watch the swans, birds nesting and lots of other
wildlife.
The Chateau de Chantilly is open every day except for a Tuesday and is open until later in
the evening during the summer months. However, the ticket offices always close
around an hour before the whole place closes, although we would say that to really
appreciate this place for all its glory and the fantastic museums, it will make a great
day for all of the family.
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