The location

THE CHÂTEAU DE CHANTILLY

THE UNTOUCHED TREASURES OF A PRINCE COLLECTOR

The Château de Chantilly is one of the jewels of France’s heritage. It is also the work of a man with an exceptional destiny: Henri d’Orléans, Duc d’Aumale, son of the last French king, Louis-Philippe. This prince, considered to be the greatest collector of his time, made Chantilly the setting for his countless masterpieces and precious manuscripts. The château has survived the centuries just as the Duc d’Aumale donated it to the Institut de France in 1886: the perfect opportunity to take a trip back in time to the heart of a princely residence. As a tribute to his illustrious predecessors, the Princes de Condé, the Duc d’Aumale named the complex the Musée Condé.

THE LARGEST PRINCELY STABLES IN EUROPE

An architectural masterpiece of the 18th century, the Grandes Écuries were built by the architect Jean Aubert for Louis-Henri de Bourbon, 7th Prince of Condé. This veritable palace for horses, built between 1719 and 1735, recently celebrated its tercentenary! The Grandes Écuries are home to the Musée du Cheval, which presents the relationship between man and horse since the dawn of civilisation. The building is also home to the Compagnie Equestre, which puts on original shows all year round to amaze young and old alike.

THE PAINTING GALLERIES

The Duc d’Aumale designed the painting galleries as a showcase for his exceptional collections. He assembled the second largest collection of old paintings in France, after the Louvre. In keeping with the Duc d’Aumale’s wishes, the presentation of the works has remained unchanged since the 19th century, offering a unique opportunity to travel back in time and discover a museography typical of that era.

INGRES: THE ARTIST AND HIS PRINCES 

Until October 1st
A successful artist in the first half of the 19th century, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) was an unclassifiable and often visionary painter. Behind his apparent classicism lies an originality and a quest for perfection that continue to fascinate. From national and international collections, paintings and drawings commissioned or collected by the Princes of Orléans will be brought together at Chantilly, alongside their studies and variants. They will provide an insight into the perfectionist and methodical work of one of France’s greatest painters. For more information, click here: Discover the exhibition