Chantilly

Chantilly is a lovely and elegant town located 48 km. north of Paris. You can enjoy a pleasant walk through the streets of the town, but the main attractions are without comparison the town castle and the many green areas. Château de Chantilly is located about 2 km east of the city centre and can be reached by walking via Ave. de la Plaine des Aigles. The castle was left to decay just after the French Revolution, but has since been put back into use. The main attractions today are the impressive castle park and several fine paintings. The castle itself consists of two connected buildings, the Petit Château and the Grand Château, which were rebuilt after the Revolution and were, among other things, military headquarters during the First World War. Today, the Grand Château houses a fine museum with impressive 19th-century interior rooms. There are also many interesting paintings in the museum, including one by Raphael. Also visit the Petit Château, where the highlights are the impressive library and the Prince's apartments.