Château de Chantilly, Renaissance château in Chantilly, France.
Château de Chantilly is a Renaissance-style castle in the town of Chantilly north of Paris, comprising the Grand Château and the older Petit Château. The two sections rise above an artificial water basin and are linked by a staircase and a gallery.
A fortress stood here from 1386 and later passed into the ownership of the Montmorency family before falling to the Condé branch of the Bourbon house in the 17th century. Architect Honoré Daumet rebuilt the Grand Château after its destruction during the Revolution.
The name Chantilly comes from the Latin word Cantiliacum, referring to the Roman roots of the settlement. Visitors today see grand salons with carved wood paneling where European princes were once received.
The estate opens daily except Tuesdays, and visitors can explore the main rooms independently or join a guided tour. The surrounding park offers shaded paths that work well for a walk on warm days.
One of the manuscripts in the library is the 15th-century Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, an illuminated book of hours with singular depictions of medieval life. The manuscript is considered one of the most precious works of its kind in the world.
Location: Chantilly
Inception: 1882
Architects: Jean Bullant, Honoré Daumet
Official opening: 1882
Architectural style: French Renaissance architecture, eclectic architecture
Part of: domain of Chantilly
Website: http://chateaudechantilly.com
GPS coordinates: 49.19389,2.48583
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:02
The castles surrounding Paris provide insight into several centuries of French history. From medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces to Napoleonic residences, each structure represents different architectural styles and periods. These buildings served as homes for French kings, emperors and noble families, and today house significant collections of furniture, artworks and historical objects. Many are surrounded by extensive gardens and grounds that are also open to visitors. The collection spans a wide geographic area from Versailles to the Loire Valley, offering destinations that range from half-hour to two-hour drives from Paris. Properties like Versailles and Fontainebleau attract millions of visitors annually, while smaller estates like Château de Breteuil or Château de Condé provide quieter alternatives. Some, like Château de Guédelon, offer unusual perspectives on medieval construction methods, while restored sites such as Château de Pierrefonds demonstrate 19th-century interpretations of medieval architecture.
This collection presents neogothic architecture from the 19th and early 20th centuries, when architects across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania revived medieval building forms. The movement began in Britain and spread worldwide, employing pointed arches, flying buttresses, ribbed vaults and stone spires. This architectural language was used for churches, universities, government buildings and railway stations. The collection includes religious structures like Cologne Cathedral and Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, government buildings such as the Parliament Complex in Ottawa and the Palace of Westminster in London, educational institutions like the University of Glasgow Main Building, and transport hubs including St. Pancras Station in London and Victoria Terminus in Mumbai. These structures demonstrate how architects adapted medieval techniques to modern building materials and functions.
Halloween becomes an annual major event across France. Theme parks like Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix, and Futuroscope create special environments with seasonal decorations, themed shows, and attractions suitable for all ages. Families can enjoy special menus in restaurants and meet costumed characters that animate the walkways. Cultural heritage sites also participate by organizing night visits. The Paris Catacombs reveal their underground history through guided tours after dark. The Château de Combourg welcomes visitors to its medieval halls with historical stories, while the Citadel of Bitche transforms its military galleries into theatrical settings. Museums also join the festivities: the Rodin Museum highlights its Gates of Hell with sound and visual effects. Natural sites like the Balme Caves host thematic exhibitions, and even the Thoiry Zoo invites visitors to observe animals during specially arranged evening events.
Condé Museum
35 m
Chantilly Racecourse
826 m
Hameau de Chantilly
579 m
Grandes écuries du château de Chantilly
497 m
The Living Museum of the Horse
417 m
Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Chantilly
505 m
Potager des princes
772 m
Pavillon de Manse
1.4 km
Château d'Enghien
170 m
Golf de Chantilly
1.4 km
Église Saint-Firmin de Vineuil-Saint-Firmin
1.4 km
Hôtel Spoelberch de Lovenjoul
671 m
Chapelle Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul de Vineuil-Saint-Firmin
566 m
Equestrian statue of Anne de Montmorency
60 m
Statue of Pluton by Henri Chapu
126 m
Chapelle du Château de Chantilly
43 m
Saint Peter's Church in Chantilly
989 m
Bust of Louis II of Bourbon, prince of Condé
73 m
Equestrian statue of Duke of Aumale
623 m
Joan of Arc listening to her voices, on a socle (replica)
32 m
Saint-Jean Chapel
861 m
Ferme de la Ménagerie
875 m
Château Saint-Firmin
1.1 km
Chapelle Sainte-Croix-en-Jérusalem de Chantilly
476 m
Orgue de tribune de l'église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Chantilly
505 m
Chapelle Saint-Paul du château de Chantilly
259 m
Partie instrumentale de l'orgue à Chantilly
505 m
Maison Saint-Pierre
543 mReviews
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