Château de Chantilly

     The Château de Chantilly was built in the mid 1500s, destroyed during the French Revolution, and rebuilt using the original designs during the years 1875-1882.  The Institut de France owns the property today.  Read more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chantilly

Magnificent, huh?  The château houses the Musée Condé.  The art collection is considered one of the finest in France.

There is also a library which contains thousands of books and manuscripts including 300 medieval manuscripts.

I took a picture of this view because of the perfectly manicured garden and because of the  interesting granite on the window seat.  It is difficult to see in this picture, but the granite contains black, white, pink, and green colors.

This tapestry is in the Grand Singerie or, as it is called, the Monkey Room.  The walls are covered in paintings of monkeys engaged in human activities.  This was once a popular decorating style, but few examples remain today.  I enjoyed the "cheeky monkeys."

My Favorite Painting
I got a real kick out of the partial painting of the child's face.  Isn't that like a kid to pop up at an inopportune moment?

This is a pink diamond with an interesting story.  One October 12, 1926, the diamond was stolen along with other treasures from the château.  The thieves got cold feet and threw most of their haul into the Seine River.  They hid this diamond inside an apple in a hotel room fruit bowl.  It was discovered by a maid and a curious hotel manager.  Since the diamond's return, it has been stored in the château's safe.  This diamond on display is a reproduction.

Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, a former owner/resident of the château, believed he would be reincarnated as a horse.  He built a stable suitable for a prince to house himself in his next incarnation.  Today the stable is the Living Museum of the Horse.  It's a sort of horse zoo and collection of all things equestrian.

Clean as a whistle with luxury stalls.

Many horse breeds live here including some really cute tiny horses and an adorable donkey.

Tack Room

Our trip to the horse museum included a dressage demonstration.

The château sits next to Chantilly Racecourse.  

The timing couldn't have been better.  They were racing the day of our visit.