You don’t have to be horse-crazy to appreciate the drowsy charm of this elegant provincial town, but it helps.

Just north of Paris is an attractive, apparently sleepy little town with lots of short people and lots of tall trees that obscure a semi-secretive business of startling proportions. Set on the banks of the Nonette River, Chantilly is the core of France’s thoroughbred training and breeding. It’s where more than 3000 racehorses owned by the world’s mega-rich are nurtured and educated in palatial five-star stables, mostly screened from the prying eyes of competitors.

Le Château de Chantilly, France by Guillaume Cattiaux

In summer, when Chantilly’s flower-filled window-boxes are in full colour, the Paris social set descends on one of the most beautiful racecourses in the world, in the grounds of the Chateau de Chantilly, for the running in June of the celebrated Prix de Diane and the Jockey Club Stakes.

The jockeys are significantly shorter than the average height of Chantilly’s population of 11,500, most of whom are horse-crazy and the evidence of that is everywhere.

Horses can be seen at the myriad stables, on practice tracks and parading around the streets.

They turn up in countless works of art, in a horse museum, on the covers of hotel menus, emblazoned all over restaurant crockery and in the minds and lives of 1700 citizens who are employed, one way or another, in their service.

But there’s more to Chantilly than the horses; it’s also a town of chateaux, parks, forests and lakes. Chantilly forest was once the hunting ground of France’s elite, but is now open to everyone and is crisscrossed with bridleways and cycle paths.

On race days, the weathered faces of elderly women, framed by neatly-kept flowerboxes, face each other across narrow streets to exchange gossip and racing tips, while the town’s many alfresco cafes can be so busy, their tables encroach on to adjacent parking lots.

Le Chateau de Chantilly, France by Nawal_

But Chantilly’s pride is its majestic Renaissance Chateau de Chantilly, set on 7900ha on the edge of town. It is actually two chateaux: the Petit Chateau, dating back to the early 1500s, and the fairytale castle known as Grand Chateau, rebuilt in the 1870s after being destroyed during the French Revolution. Like many other French castles, the Chateau de Chantilly is picturesque and was used for residential purposes, not defensive ones.

Louis XV used the Grand Chateau as a plush weekender to entertain Madame de Pompadour before the original’s demise. Rebuilt from scratch as an exact replica by the Duc d’Aumale, it now belongs to the Institut de France. In a section called the Musee Conde, there’s a fabulous art collection of some 800 old masters and more than 5000 drawings and engravings from the 14th to 19th centuries.

More than 30,000 volumes of rare books and a fine collection of Chantilly porcelain bearing 18th-century Chinese-style designs also feature in this superb museum, which is open to the public. In thechateau’s stone-vaulted kitchens, once the realm of legendary 17th-century chef Vorace Vatel, La Capitainerie is now a superb restaurant with an open-hearth fireplace big enough to barbecue a bull – it’s a beautiful setting for lunch every day except Tuesday.

The fashionable racetrack, Courses de Chantilly, is set within the chateau’s grounds and underneath it is a maze of subterranean tunnels built by erstwhile royal residents as escape routes in case of a siege, something that probably plays on the jockeys’ minds as they pound around its surface each summer.

The chateau’s massive stable complex, built in the 1820s and 300m long, once housed 240 horses and 300 hunting dogs. Today, it is the headquarters of the Musee Vivant du Cheval, the Living Horse Museum.

With 31 rooms, 4000sq m of floor space and 800m of track, this huge equine shrine attracts 200,000 visitors a year. The exhibits include old saddles, carriages, harnesses, veterinary instruments and even carousel horses.

The post Charming Chantilly | France appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Gilles Messian

Château de Chenonceau, in comparison to the other castles of the Loire, has a very calm and majestic appearance. It may be surprising that the castle is the work of women (was built and reconstructed according to the wishes of several noble women), therefore the castle is also known as the “Château des Dames” (Castle of women). For example, Catherine de Medici added amazing yew maze and a rose garden. Madame Dupin changed the castle to ​​a center of fashion in the 18th century.

Château de Chenonceau is standing on the site of the former water mill. It has been built between the years of 1513 and 1521. The current form of the castle dates back to the 16th century. In the years of 1556 – 1559 its typical bridge arches were added to the castle and connected the banks of the river.

In the castle you can admire the beautiful tapestries, magnificent paintings and original tile floors. No wonder that after Versailles it is the second most visited castle in France.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Gilles Messian

The castle is open to the public, and features the magnificent interiors and beautiful gardens. There are even restaurants and galleries. It is also home to various regular exhibitions and concerts. Before visiting the Château de Chenonceau you can download audio guide of the castle from the official website of Château de Chenonceau.

View Château de Chenonceau – the second most visited castle in France in a larger map

The post Château de Chenonceau – the second most visited castle in France appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Baron

Palace of Versailles is also an important symbol of the Great French Revolution, when in 1789 the nobility was expelled from there to Paris, and executed by the guillotine.

Beautiful castle is admired mainly for its unique architecture and large surrounding gardens, which are really amazing. Many rulers in other European countries later attempted to imitate the construction of their residences just according to this French chateau; for example, Viennese palace Schönbrun.

During an excursion in the Château de Versailles you definitely do not miss the spectacular tour of the royal apartments and beautifully decorated chapel. The complex has really got a lot of rooms, wings and associated buildings, so if you want to see everything it takes you almost all day.

View Palace of Versailles – one of the most famous monuments in Europe France in a larger map

Very interesting is a unique Hall of Mirrors, but you should visit also the Museum of History, which shows you all the important events that are associated with this place. I have to say that they are terribly much.

In the gardens you can find many fountains and statues. The best time to visit the gardens is in the summer during the summer musical and water festival Les Grandes Eaux Musicales, when the fountains are turned on and chamber music bands play in the gardens.

View Palace of Versailles – one of the most famous monuments in Europe France in a larger map

The post Palace of Versailles – one of the most famous monuments in Europe | France appeared first on Europe Explored.

City of Carcassonne lies on the river Aude in the southern part of France. Carcassonne has a long history, there was oppidum already in the Iron Age, which was later transformed to the Roman city in the 1st century BC, and in the 11th century AD this Roman city was the strongest one in the county. Because the city was not controlled by church, Carcassonne soon became a haven for medieval intellectual elite.

Carcassonne was very open and tolerant city until 1659, when was conquered by the French and lost its position. Thus began the decline of the city, people left and Carcassonne deteriorated.

The medieval city centre is situated on a hill above the river. In times of decline of this old town there had grown a new town under the hill along a river.

The city centre was saved in the 19th century thanks to the reconstruction led by Viollet le Duc. This controversial architect reconstructed also Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris, which was his first work. Some people admire him for his extensive reconstructions which ensured France a lot of curious tourists that are coming here just to see his work. On the other hand, others disagree with the method of his work. Viollet le Duc just found an original fragment, and repeated it over and over again. The result is that the buildings are far away from the original form. Although the sights have typical signs, but those are not completely correct or at least not in such combination (e.g. respecting the original architect’s intent). But finally it is something unusual and tourists just love it.

View Carcassonne – the largest preserved fortress town in Europe France in a larger map

The city centre is surrounded by walls, within which you can find a church, castle, museum and a labyrinth of medieval streets with shops and restaurants.

Sweet France offers visitors lots of different attractions and sights. One of the places worth visiting is the medieval city of Carcassonne. If you are going to the south of France or you are heading for the Pyrenees, do not miss this place, because here you can really feel the Middle Ages.

Once you are around Carcassone do not miss the Canal du Midi. It is a remarkable technical monument, which connects the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The canal was built to ensure fast and safe transport of goods between ports in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The project dates from 1662 and its author was Paul Riquet. The canal was completed in less than twenty years after approval of the project and its construction employed 120 000 workers.

View Carcassonne – the largest preserved fortress town in Europe France in a larger map

The post Carcassonne – the largest preserved fortress town in Europe | France appeared first on Europe Explored.

The old castle was built on the place of today’s castle in Pierrefonds already in the 12th century. This great military strength has undergone a number of refurbishment over the centuries as well as its owner changed frequently. In March 1617, during the troubled reign of King Louis XIII, the castle was conquered by troops of the Chief minister Cardinal Richelieu. He decided to demolish a castle. However thanks to a huge range of construction, the work of destruction was not completed. The roofs have been destroyed and the walls were devastated by the canons.

View Pierrefonds Castle – fairytale castle in France in a larger map

Pierrefonds Castle then remained as a ruin for the next two centuries. Napoleon I bought the wreck in 1810 for just 3,000 francs. In the 19th century began a period of fashion traditions of medieval knights. The ruins of Pierrefonds Castle were captured between 1834 and 1866 by the French painter Corot in his paintings.

The future French emperor Napoleon III visited the castle in 1850. Later, as emperor, asked the architect Viollet-le-Duc in 1857 to carry out reconstruction of the castle. The project grew and later they wanted to build a royal residence here. Viollet-le-Duc built it much under the influence of his ideas about the Middle Ages. The fort was changed to the castle. Yet as a builder proved very good knowledge of military fortifications of 14th century.

View Pierrefonds Castle – fairytale castle in France in a larger map

The post Pierrefonds Castle – fairytale castle in France appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you reshuffle historical records and manuscripts, you will learn that King Francois I played a significant role to reshape this castle after modification. There are many critics and historians who claim that Domenico da Cortona attributed a lot to redesign this building. Some of them claim that Philibert Delorme – the French Renaissance architect or Leonardo da Vinci had an important role in designing the structure of chateau.

Architectural Beauty of Le Château de Chambord

According to researchers, exterior and interior parts of Le Château de Chambord are fantastic to look as professional architects have used sumptuous marble slabs, stones and wall painting color shades. The central keep is beset with four decorated pillars with arches (four immense bastion towers at the corners). Le Château de Chambord is also designed with an eye-catching garden, moats and backyards. Conventional moat or water ditch adjacent to the castle was not constructed to defend enemy but this water moat has accelerated overall beauty of the building. There are 440 spacious rooms, 365 fireplaces along with more than 80 well decorated staircases inside the building.

So far as architectural aesthete is concerned, architects have borrowed Italian architectural style to install large windows and a rooftop gallery with open sides (loggia) to gear up visibility and clarity. Designers used their razor sharp intelligence and imaginative faculty to construct roof of the castle by setting up 11 towers, 3 different chimneys inclusive of double helical or spiral staircases in the chateau. There is also a well decorated beautiful lighthouse at the top of Le Château de Chambord.

Le Château de Chambord was confiscated as enemy property in 1915 but after severe legal battle, it was got back to the family of the Duke of Parma. Engineers and architects started the building renovation works after World War II. Right now, this historical site has become one of the most attractive tourist centers.

View Le Château de Chambord – a major tourist attraction in France in a larger map

The post Le Château de Chambord – a major tourist attraction in France appeared first on Europe Explored.

Long before the construction of the abbey on Mont Saint-Michel, the rocky outcropping within the English channel were an important strategic stronghold during the sixth and seventh centuries it would not be until the Franks laid siege to the stronghold that it would eventually fall can be torn down completely.

Mont Saint-Michel, France by Stevage

Soon after, during the eighth century construction began on the first religious establishment on the island. The choice of constructing a church on the rocks was as a result of the Archangel Michael’s appearance before the Bishop of Avranches back in 708. According to the legend, Michael instructed the Bishop to construct a church on the island and rename it Mont Tombe.

For hundreds of years, the mount was under control of France. However, in 1076 when the Normans conquered England, the island was annexed and made part of Britain. Soon after, the Normans financed the construction of an all new abbey on the island.

Aerial picture of Mont Saint-Michel, France by Playing Futures: Applied…

During the 12th century, Robert de Thorigny reinforced many of the buildings within the abbey in order to protect it from the oncoming battles with Normandy. Soon after the Norman annexation, King Philip financed instruction of an all new rectory and cloister in 1204.

Of course many things changed during the French Revolution as most of the monks had moved out of the abbey. As a result, the abbey was officially closed and turned into a prison responsible for holding the highest profile political prisoners. But unfortunately its use as a present would not last long because in 1836, the prison was finally closed down and declared a monument of historical importance. By 1979, Mont Saint-Michel was established as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Inside of the Mont Saint-Michel abbey, France by mat’s eye

Access to Mont Saint-Michel is currently made possible by a causeway that extends from the shoreline to the island. However, many pilgrims choose to ignore the causeway altogether an attempt to cross on foot to the island. As result of the quickly changing tides and the quicksand, this can be a very dangerous and sometimes deadly decision. Even today, it is not uncommon to hear about somebody being injured after trying to cross to the island via the tidal flats.

Of course once you arrive to the island, getting up to the abbey is no easy task. There are more than 900 steps that make their way from the shores of the mountain up to the entrance of Mont Saint-Michel Abbey. But do not worry, you will find that halfway up the stairway is a small church which has been carved into the side of the mountain; you will find that this is a perfect place to stop and take a rest.

Mont Saint-Michel in dark, France by Destination Europe

Visiting Mont Saint-Michel is definitely a unique day trip. Countless people every single year make their way to the island to see the centuries old abbey and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the surrounding region.

The post Mont Saint-Michel – the most visited tourist site in France after Paris appeared first on Europe Explored.