Description: The private apartments can only be visited on a tour and the tours are conducted in French, but even if you don't understand (which in our group 3 out of 4 didn't) you can still enjoy the beautiful furniture and personal items of the Duc D'aumale. The staff here was very nice, they came looking for us in the Chapel to tell us that the tour was beginning and did we want to join it. Since they did this at 12:00 it was very lucky that we were able to do the tour since the museum closes at 12:45 until 2pm. The tour began in the guardroom and there was a very nice Van Dyke portrait in the room. We were taken through several rooms while our guide recounted amusing little stories about the house and the family. I was just too tired at this point to write down all that he told us but I remember that he told a few very funny stories.
Among the rooms that I remember are the Monkey room which has some beautiful gold and white panels on the wall with chinoiserie and moneys in the design. There is a set of chairs in this room that belonged to Marie Antoinette and were in her bathroom at Versailles. The last room on the tour has been made into almost a shrine to the sons of the Duc D'aumale who died as young men. The furniture throughout is striking.
The Library which can be visited without the tour is a must see. It has some of the finest illuminated manuscripts in the world. One, the "Tres Riches Heures du Duc du Berry" is a real treasure.
The chapel has the heart of the Grande Conde.
Throughout the Chateau you will see the letters H & O entwined, this stands for Henri Orleans, the Duc D'aumale. There is a very nice gift shop and a restaurant at the Chateau. Also the stables have been turned into the Grand Museum of the Horse, and these are not like any stables you have ever seen.
Close