Chantilly: The Grand Stables

 Yesterday, we took the train to Chantilly, which is about a 25 minute train ride from Gard du Nord.  As we walked from the train station to the chateau, we thought we spotted it.  No, that is not the chateau, those are the stables.

From the offical website:

 Architect Jean Aubert built the Grand Stables at the request of Louis-Henri de Bourbon, the seventh prince of Condé. The legend says that the Prince was convinced he would be reincarnated in horse and therefore wished for stables worthy of his rank. He left France one of the eighteenth century's architectural masterpieces.

The stables sheltered, in those days, 240 horses and 150 dogs dispatched in different packs for the daily hunts held throughout the year. Louis-Henri was proud of this architecture and hosted sumptuous dinners under the 28 meter-high monumental dome. Louis XV, the future tsar Paul Ier and Frederic II of Prussia even had supper there, to the sound hunting-horns.

 The French Revolution mark the brutal end of these princely times but the Grand Stables are miraculously saved, thanks to its occupation by the army.

 

 The Museum of the Horse is housed in the grand stables.  It is a new museum that focuses on the importance of the horse throughout history.  It is not too large and quite interesting.

 Notebook on horse breeds, Nepal, 17th Century

 

 Chevaux de Fantasia, Raoul Dufy (1877-1953)

 At first, we thought this lady exercising a horse outside was the show.  Pierre investigated further and found the real horse, pony, and donkey show.

We got to see a short and entertaining show.  It was Kids' Weekend, which meant kids were free and that there were special activities.  There are long, elaborate show with a expensive price tag twice a week.  From the stables, we headed to the chateau, but first we stopped for a quick picnic.