Page 201 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

rose window in the apse
represents the Glorification
of the Church. Protruding
from the cathe dral’s western
towers are statues paying
tribute to the oxen that were
used to haul up stone for
its construction.
The rest of medieval Laon
rewards casual strolling: a
promenade rings the 16th-
century Citadelle further east,
while to the south you can
follow the ramparts past the
Porte d’Ardon and Porte des
Chenizelles to Eglise St-Martin.
South of Laon is Chemin des
Dames, named after Louis
XV’s daughters, who used to
take this route; it is more often
remembered as a World War I
battlefield and is lined with
cemeteries and memorials.

y
Chantilly
! D2 ⌂ Oise £ @ n 73 rue
du Connétable; www.
chantilly-tourisme.com
last private owner, the Duke of Musée Condé, the art
The horse-racing capital of Aumale. These include work gallery of Chantilly, one
France, Chantilly offers a classy by Raphael, Botticelli, Poussin of the largest in France
combination of château, park and Ingres. Among the most
and forest that has long made precious items is the famous
it a popular excursion. 15th-century illu minated Musée du Cheval
With origins in Gallo-Roman manuscript Les Très Riches " ⌂ Grandes Ecuries du
times, the château of today Heures du Duc de Berry, repro- Prince de Condé, Chantilly
started to take shape in 1528, ductions of which are on view. # Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm daily;
when Anne de Montmorency, You can also tour the opulent Nov–Mar: 10:30am–7pm
Constable of France, had the stately apartments. Wed–Mon; park to 8pm
old fortress replaced and the Both châteaux are upstaged ∑ domainedechantilly.com
Petit Château added. During by the magnificent stables
the time of the Great Prince of (Grandes Ecuries), an eques-
Condé (1621–86), renovation trian palace designed by Jean CHANTILLY RACES
work continued and André Aubert in 1719 to house 240 Chantilly is a shrine to
Le Nôtre created a park and horses and 500 dogs. It is the love affair between
fountains that made even occupied by the Musée du the French upper classes
Louis XIV jealous. Destroyed Cheval. Devoted to equine art and equestrian sport.
in the Revolution, the Grand and culture, it also presents It held its first official
Château was again rebuilt various breeds of horses and race in 1834, and today
and its receptions and hunting ponies, riding displays and spe- some 2,000 horses are
parties became crowded by cial events related to horses. trained in the surroun­
the fashionable high society ding forests. Every
of the 1820s and 1830s. It Musée Condé June, the Chantilly
was finally replaced by a "'\ ⌂ Château de racetrack becomes the
Renaissance-style château Chantilly § 03 44 27 31 80 focus of the flat racing
in the late 19th century. # Museum: Apr–Oct: 10am– season, when top riders
Today the Grand Château 6pm daily, Nov–Mar: 10:30am– and their thoroughbreds
and the Petit Château form 5pm Wed–Mon; park: Apr– compete for presti gious
the Musée Condé, displaying Oct: 10am–8pm, Nov–Mar: historic trophies.
art treasures collected by its 10:30am–6pm ¢ Jan
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