Paris Day
Trip :
Château
de Chantilly
Day-Trip to Chantilly from
Paris
The small town of Chantilly, 40 km north of Paris,
is closely associated with horses and racing. Some 3000 thoroughbreds
prance the forest rides of a morning, and two of the season's classiest
flat races are held here. Horses can also be seen at the museum in
the
stables of Chantilly's other main attraction, its elegant
nineteenth-century Chateau.
Trains take about thirty minutes from Paris 's
Gare du Nord to Chantilly. Occasional free buses run from the station
to the Chateau, though it's an easy walk. Footpaths GR 11 and 12
pass
through the Chateau park and its surrounding forest, offering a
peaceful and leisurely way of exploring this bit of country.
Moored in the park of the chateau is an aerophile, a
hot-air balloon, which takes visitors up for short rides over the
chateau every ten minutes. You can also take a 25 minutes commentated
boat trip all the way round the chateau and be dropped off at the
entrance to the museum.
By the entrance-gate to the grounds of the chateau,
is a caravan selling the local delight. Chantilly cream. It's basically
whipped, sugared cream and tastes delicious.