Chantilly, castle and lace
Surrounded by water and gardens designed by Le Nôtre, the Château de Chantilly houses the Musée Condé, the second-largest collection of old-master paintings in France. The nearby Great Stables host the Horse Museum and splendid equestrian shows. An afternoon in this setting, followed by a break around a cream Chantilly of course, makes a date that lives up to its promise.
Compiègne and Pierrefonds
An imperial residence under Napoleon III, the Château de Compiègne sits beside the vast forest of the same name. A few kilometres away, Pierrefonds, restored by Viollet-le-Duc, raises its fairy-tale towers above a lake. Two visits ideal to pair in a single day. Locals love meeting in the forest for a bike ride between them, under the great beeches.
Senlis and Chaalis Abbey
Senlis, a former royal city, charms with its paved lanes, Gothic cathedral and Gallo-Roman ramparts. Chaalis Abbey and its park, laid out around a rose garden, offer a parenthesis out of time. On Lyad, Oise members share their favourite castles and walks; it is up to you to find someone to live a tale with.
Date ideas
- Château de Chantilly
- Great Stables
- Château de Compiègne
- Château de Pierrefonds
- Senlis
- Chaalis
- Chantilly Racecourse
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau Park
