In the shoes of a king at the Château de Chantilly

Built during the Middle Ages, the Domaine de Chantilly was originally a simple fortified building that controlled the road between Paris and Senlis. It was pillaged during the Hundred Years' War, leading to the construction of a new fortress in the 14th century.

300 years later, Louis II de Bourbon, known as "le Grand Condé" and cousin of King Louis XIV, inherited the estate. He hired André Le Nôtre, the gardener at Versailles, to create magnificent formal gardens and organised a real court life at Chantilly.

But the château as we know it today is in fact the work of a man called Henri d'Orléans, who was Duke of Aumale from 1822 to 1897. On his death, he donated his entire estate to the Institut de France. Today, the Château de Chantilly is a testament to France's cultural wealth, and many relics are hidden within its walls.

A visit to the Château de Chantilly takes you back in time! Inside, you can take a tour of the grand flats, admire the galleries of paintings in the Musée Condé and enter the magnificent library. You can also take a guided tour of the Duc d'Aumale's private flats, the only princely flats dating from the July Monarchy to have remained intact.

At lunchtime, enjoy a meal in one of the estate's restaurants and taste the real whipped cream before taking in a horse show at the Grandes Ecuries.

Stroll through the gardens

In the afternoon, take a stroll through the three historic gardens of the Domaine de Chantilly: the French garden designed by André Le Nôtre, the English garden and the Anglo-Chinese garden. You can hire buggies and rosalies, and even rowing boats and pedalos to cruise on the lake. The Château de Chantilly is unique in many ways. As you stroll through the grounds, you may come across a surprising sight: there are sheep and kangaroos on the estate!

Privatise the Château de Chantilly!

Another exclusive feature is that certain rooms on the estate can be reserved for private parties. With the diversity of its galleries, it is the ideal and original setting for prestigious evenings, corporate meetings or weddings...

Visitors can enjoy a private tour of the Musée Condé outside public opening hours. With a glass of champagne in hand, they can discover the collections of paintings, furniture, books and precious manuscripts away from the crowds: a moment out of time!

A pillar of French history, a visit to the Château de Chantilly is a must for any stay in the Hauts-de-France region. Considering the size of the estate, you should allow at least half a day on site. If you can, prefer to spend a whole day there to take the time to see everything.

🚌 How do I get to the Château de Chantilly?

By car, the Château de Chantilly is 40 minutes from Paris via the A1 and/or A3 and 2.5 hours from Lille

via the A1.

From the capital, the estate can also be reached in 45 minutes by RER D or 25 minutes by TER.

⏰ Château de Chantilly opening times

The Château de Chantilly is open every day except Tuesday:

• from 10.30am to 5pm (until 6pm for the gardens) from the end of October to the end of March
• from 10am to 6pm (8pm for the gardens) the rest of the time

To check the exact times and events on the day of your visit, go directly to the Château de Chantilly diary.

👛 Château de Chantilly prices

• Full price 1-day ticket: €17
• Reduced rate 1 day ticket: €13.5
• Family rate (2 adults + 2 or 3 children) 1-day ticket: €48
• Full price 2-day ticket: €23
• Reduced 2-day ticket: €18
• Under 7s: free

👉 Classic tickets give access to the château, the park and its gardens and the large stables, as well as to equestrian events and temporary exhibitions.

To find out all the prices and book your admission online, go directly to the official Château de Chantilly website.