Domaine de Chantilly

On Sunday we sailed to Conflans and today we visited the Domaine de Chantilly (i.e. Chantilly castle). The original castle was built in the 14^th century was gradually added to from the 16^th to the 19^th centuries. It is a magnificent building surrounded by beautiful gardens and housing wonderful art and other collections. The library has more than 60,000 books and priceless manuscripts, with only space to show 13,000.

Among the spectacular buildings on the site are the Great Stables, built in the 18^th century and dedicated to hunting. Relics of their past are kept in the Museum of the Horse, also on site. Today the stables host over 150 equestrian shows per year and daily dressage demonstrations.

Photo 1: The castle.

Photo 2: Statue of hunting dogs.

Photo 3: Salon.

Photo 4: View of part of the gardens from the castle.

Photos 5 and 6: These give some idea of the lavish way in which the interior has been decorated.