Chantilly in green

We have family staying at the moment so are enjoying being tourists at home. On Monday we went to Chantilly a town 40kms north of Paris. We went there back in May. During that visit we went to the Musée Vivant du Cheval (the Living Museum of the Horse). This time we went to see the Château and its' gardens. The Château was built in 1560 for the Duc of Montmorency whose father worked in the household of Louis XII. The Château is not that big, but looks enchanting, built in a creamy yellow sandstone with a scalloped slate roof, surrounded by a large moat. Here is a view as you approach from the Musée Vivant du Cheval.

The gardens are beautifully kept, they were laid out for the most part by André Le Nôtre. Unfortunately we didn't leave enough time to visit all of the gardens, but we did see part of them, including a brilliant labyrinth that the kids enjoyed charging around. The gardens are beautifully kept and very green, with water ways, small areas of woodland, a jardin anglais and much more. For this post I've gathered together a series of green themed photos I took in the gardens. 

Here is a wrought iron bridge crossing a waterway. It cast some lovely shadows....

...and even better reflections.

There were plenty of fish.

A few birds. Here's one in a cage.

I love living in Paris. I love big cities. But sometimes to get out into the countryside and enjoy bigger skies and more greenery is just what the soul needs. 

Chantilly

My parents were in town for a few days last week. As is often the case when they're here we embarked on a more ambitious outing than the usual trot to one of the local parks. We went to Chantilly, a small town about 40kms north of Paris, easily accessible from Paris by trains leaving from the Gard du Nord. Chantilly has several attractions, the Château de Chantilly, the Musée Vivant du Cheval (the Living Museum of the Horse) and the Chantilly racecourse. The Chateau was built in the mid 16C but later part of it was destroyed in the French revolution and rebuilt in 1870.

The Musée Vivant du Cheval is housed in enormous stables built in 1790. The 186 metre long building can accomodate up to 240 horses and 500 hounds! Legend says that the Prince of Condé, who inherited the Château in 1632 requested the building of the stables, as he believed he would be reincarnated as a horse.

To get to the Museum from Chantilly station involves walking through a bit of forest, not unlike the Bois de Boulogne but without the hum of Parisian traffic in the background.

You can then walk 'as the crow flies' along the horse track, a vivid green plush strip of grass. One of the healthiest expanses of grass I have ever seen in this country.

At the end of this long strip of grass is the Musée Vivant du Cheval, decorated with...of course...horses.

The stone is a lovely soft butter coloured limestone.

As luck (a miracle) would have it, we arrived just in time for a horse show. 14h30 incase you're interested. The show takes place inside.

The horses are beautiful.

And the riders, very skilful, manoeuvring round a tiny arena with a 13metre diameter.

This horse wasn't in the show, isn't he handsome?

And this one has a beautiful eye...

...and nose

More photos of Chantilly can be seen here (thumbnails) and here (slideshow)