Hidden Gem of France: Chantilly

Left: Château de Chantilly

Right: The Musee Conde

Credit: Institut de France & Château de Chantilly

Located about a half hour outside Paris by train, the city boasts a chateau (what self-respecting French city doesn’t) and a world-class art museum. The Musee Conde is home to the second largest collection of paintings in France, outnumbered only by the Louvre, just to give you an idea of what you’re in for.

You’ll also find the largest horse stable complex on the European continent, Les Grands Ecuries. Inside the stables, you’ll find the Musee du Chaval, a museum dedicated to the horse, of course. (A single 17 euro adult ticket gets you one day access to the Domaine, where the chateau, museum, and stables are located. A great bargain.

Horse racing has been a passion for Chantilly royalty and regulars alike for several centuries. If you want, you can coordinate your visit with a day at the races at the nearby Chantilly Racecourse.

Left: Les Grands Ecuries at the Château de Chantilly

Right: Musee du Chaval

Credit: Morgan Froment Photos & Château de Chantilly

You’ll also want to explore Chantilly lace–it’s construction and history–at the Musee de la Dentelle. If you remember the Big Bopper’s famous lyric, “Chantilly lace and a pretty face, ponytail hangin’ down…” good for you. If not, search it out on YouTube. It’s a classic tune, and this is the city where Chantilly lace originated.

As for gastronomic delights, you’ll be required to sample the coffee drinks that include the city’s infamous ‘chantilly’ or whipped cream. Whipped cream didn’t originate here, but the recipe that included sugar–a key ingredient in the fabulous taste–did. My advice: splurge for this in an upscale cafe. (Le Jardin D’Hiver comes to mind.)

Le Jardin d’Hiver, Chantilly

Credit: thefork

You can enjoy the museums and the chateau in one day, taking a morning train from Paris Gar du Nord and arriving in Chantilly a half hour later. It’s an easy 20 minute walk from the train station in Chantilly to the city center, and everything you’ll want to see and do.

If you decide to stay overnight and make it a special occasion, consider the Auberge du Jeu de Paume, but I think the day trip is the best thing. You’ll start out early, take the first train out (buy your cafe et croissant before you board), see Chantilly, and return to Paris the same night, exhausted and exhilarated.

My experience: 2 roundtrip train tickets, 2 Domaine tickets, lunch for 2, and Chantilly lace souvenir napkins for the friends back home, all for about 200 euros.

Enjoy.

For details, visit Château de Chantilly here: https://chateaudechantilly.fr

About Byron Tully (right)

Grandson of a newspaper publisher and son of an oil industry executive, Byron Tully is an author who also writes for the entertainment industry. His nonfiction debut, "The Old Money Book," was published in April of 2013 to excellent reviews and enjoys consistently strong sales worldwide. His other works include "The Old Money Guide To Marriage", "Old Money, New Woman: How To Manage Your Money and Your Life", and "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition".

Byron regularly contributes to its blog, www.theoldmoneybook.com, which has been visited by over 1 million readers since 2014.

In February of 2020, "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition" was published by Acorn Street Press. This fourth book in the Old Money series reveals the fundamentals of dressing well in a classic and timeless style. In November of 2020, Byron published a 2nd Edition of "The Old Money Book", which expands on his original classic. This 2nd Edition includes vital information and insights for readers as they navigate a very different, post-pandemic world.

Byron speaks frequently about the culture and values of Old Money. He has been interviewed by KABC New York's Financial Quarterback Show, The Huffington Post, and The Simple Dollar, among others.

He lives in Paris and is happily married to an Old Money Gal from Boston.