The castle's history is long and impressive. Among its former residents were the enormously wealthy High Constable Anne de Montmorency (chief minister to Francis I and Henry II), and the Grand Conde, a military genius who hosted Louis XIV for a three-day feast and theatrical in 1671 that was dramatized in the film Vatel starring Uma Thurman and Gerard Depardieu. Poor Vatel! He'll go down in history as the most dedicated of caterers, knowing that he threw himself on his sword when a fish delivery from Paris failed to turn up. By the time it arrived, Vatel was dead.

Not only does Chantilly boast furniture that was once commissioned by Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI, but it boasts almost 1,000 Old Master paintings. The Condee museum presents, respecting the original hanging of the XIX th century, an important collection of paintings and drawings from the Ecole Francaise (Clouet, Poussin, Mignard, Nattier, Watteau, Ingres, Delacroix), as well as masterpieces from the Italian painters (Fra Angelico, Raphael, Carrache) and numerous masterpieces from the Northern Schools ( Van Dyck, teniers). Chantilly's more than 3,000 Old Master drawings allow for continual temporary exhibits which are on handsome display in the former Hunt Dining Room.

The Galerie de Peintures is typical of the lay out of 19th century museums, whether public or private. The Duc d'Aumale stipulated in his will that he wished to keep this exhibition lay out. It is a vast room with bevelled corners, lit through an overhead glass roof. The works of art are exhibited frame by frame on Pompey Red picture rails, as a function of their format, without any chronological order. On the left wall, there are paintings by Italian painters, or works which were executed in Italy (Poussin, Dughet), while the right wall displays paintings from the French school.

The Gallery contains numerous historical French portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as Mazarin or Richelieu by Philippe de Champaigne. Some were owned by the Conde family (portrait of Mademoiselle de Clermont, sister of the Duc de Bourbon, by Nattier, 1729). The portrait of Marie Antionette, Dauphine, in 1773 by Drouais was commissioned by Louis XV for the Chateau de Choisy. The Dejeuner d'Huitres (the Lunch of Oysters) by J.F. de Troy and the Dejeuner de Jambon (the Lunch of Ham) by Nicolas Lancret (1735, on either side of the steps leading to La Rotonde) were commissioned by Louis XV for the dining room in the Petits Appartements of Versailles.

Neo-classicism (Gerard, Les Trois Ages, 1806, Caroline Murat collection) and Romanticism (Delacroix, Les Deux Foscari, 1855). The Duc d'Aumale, who had lived in Algeria, was fond of Orientalism (right wall) and particularly Alexandre Gabriel Decamps, but also Horace Vernet, Marilhat, Ziem and Fromentin (Chasse au Heron en Algerie, 1865). The Duc d'Aumale, a former general, also acquired military paintings by Meissonier (Les Cuirassiers, 1805) and Alphonse de Neuville.

The architect Jean Aubert was commissioned by Louis-Henri de Bourbon, 7th Prince of Conde, to build the grand stables. Legend has it that the prince thought he would be reincarnated as a horse, so he wanted stables that would reflect the majesty of his rank. Thanks to him, France boasts an architectural masterpiece of the 18th century.

At the time, the stables hosted 240 horses and 500 hounds, split in different packs for the daily hunting sessions that took place all year long. Louis-Henri was so proud of his architectural wonder that he organised sumptuous dinners under the monumental dome which soars 28 meters high. Louis XV, the future Tsar Paul I and Frederic II of Prussia attended some of these dinners which were usually accompanied by hunting horns.

The French Revolution put an end to these princely times; however the grand stables were miraculously spared thanks to the army who used them as barracks. Only two statues were destroyed: the statue and fountain of the "Kennels Courtyard", and the "Renommee" at the top of the dome. Their lead was used to make bayonets. Two centuries later, in 1989, Yves Bienaime organised a patronage operation, replaced the "Renommee" with a copy, and donated it to the Institut de France.

At the end of the 19th century, in 1886, the last owner of the grand stables, the Duke of Aumale, fifth son of King Louis-Philippe, donated his domain (the chateau, the hippodrome, the stables, the forest, the Conde Museum.) to the Institut de France, providing its state would be preserved.

The living horse museum is harbored in the world's most beautiful stables. The Grand Stables of the Princes de Condee, architectural master piece of the XVIIIth century, situated on a unique site, facing the Chateau on one side and the hippodrome on the other.

Created in 1982 by Yves Bienaimee, with no subsidies, it is a private museum which has become not only the biggest and the beautiful museum of its kind in the world but also an internationally renowned institution. It offers 800 m of a covered circuit and attracts each year, 150.000 visitors. This museum is a must for all horse people and persons who love art and culture.

2009 Race Dates
Jan 1,3,4,5,6,8,10,11,12,15,16,17,18,19,20,22,24,25,26,27,29,31
Feb 1,4,5,7,8,12,15,16,17,19,20,22,26,28
March 17,20,21,24,27 31
April 3,4,7,10,11,14,17,21,24,28
May 1,2,5,8,9,12,15,19,22,26,29
July 2,5,6,9,12,13,16,19,23,26,30
Aug 17,19,22,24,26,27,29,31
Sept 1,4,5,8,11,12,14,15 17,18,20,22,25,27,29
Oct 2,6,9 13,20,23,27,28,30
Nov 2,3,5,6,9,10,12,13,16,17,19,20,21,23,24,25,26,27,28,30
Dec 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,16,18,19,20,22,23,24,25,26,27,29,30,31

Tuesdays and Fridays from March - September plus Dec 4th and 8th are Evening Races

Kir vin blanc

Saumon marine a la marjolaine,
Nougat de chevre frais

Piece de rumsteck, grosses echalotes confites,
Charlotte a la fourchette et jus Cognac

Camembert et reinettes

Dome chocolat aux agrumes,
Coulis passion

Chateau Fleur Grandchamp (1 bouteille pour 4 pers.)
Chateau De Lagorce (1 bouteille pour 3 pers.)

Eau minerale, cafe