Chantilly Day One: Grand Stables, Fine Dining, and History
Chantilly Day One
On our first day, my husband and I woke feeling so comfortable and refreshed from a great night's sleep. We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, which serves a vast buffet, including some favorites that are hard to find on a French menu - scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes! Of course, there were local yogurts, viennoiseries, and all sorts of treats to choose from. The fresh drip coffee was excellent.
We met up with Patrick, Eric (pictured to the right), and Olivier of Atelier Tours in the hotel's lobby. After sharing hugs and kisses, we walked out the front door where the tour began, in the shadows of the Grand Stables.
Chantilly History: The Grand Stables
The "Versailles" of the horse, the "Grandes Ecuries" (Grand Stables) is a majestic building built from 1719 to accommodate the many horses of the rich and powerful Louis-Henri de Bourbon, seventh Prince of Condé (1692-1740). A great lover of hunting, the building commissioned by the prince from the architect Jean Aubert accommodated 240 horses and more than 500 dogs.
Open to the public for horse shows and tours, this is an architectural masterpiece, a veritable palace for horses, and the largest princely stable in Europe. With its boxes lined up in the main wing of 186 meters long, you have the opportunity to greet and coo at the horses featured in the shows, each box bearing the name and
extensive information about each cheval. The exhibition looks back at the history of the Great Stables and their uses over the centuries. We walked past the hippodrome and entered the Chateau grounds through the main gate. At the end of this article, I share a video experience of the tour and give you glimpses of the majesty of the castle.
After the tour, we separated ways to refresh and were invited over to Eric and Patrick's house for an apéro. We were greeted with a massive spread of local cheese, charcuterie, breads, and fresh fruit, along with a champagne toast.
It all had to come to an end too soon, as our dinner reservations at the highly recommended Le Vertugadin were fast approaching. Known for their extensive wine list and pepper steak, Jeff and I were treated to the best customer service and meal. It was the perfect end to our first full day in Chantilly.
On our second day, I woke and ran out the door first thing in the morning. An easy ten-minute walk away is the ecuries of Henson. I was desperate for a ride - the last time I had been on horseback was in the Camargue during our summer road trip through Provence.
The "Henson horse" is a breed unique to the company - a cross of a draft, Arabian, and a European line that creates a uniquely gentle horse in both temperament and ride.
