France River Cruise
September, 2014
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Our last stop of the trip, Conflans was the jumping off point for us to bus over to the Domaine de Chantilly. In 1830, this estate was inherited by Henri of Orléans, Duke of Aumale and the son of King Louis-Phillipe. Perhaps the greatest collector of his time, he used the property to showcase everything that was the focus of his passions. Most notably horses, dogs and art. Not necessarily in that order.
The most imposing structure on the estate is not that of the castle, but rather it's the horse stables and equestrian centre. We didn't get to visit the stables, but the description we heard of it makes it sound pretty luxurious. Compared to the accommodations that the Duke built for family members on the occasion of a wedding, it's clear to see that he valued horses far above that of his own family members. Something that a lot of us can easily relate to.
In 1886 the Duke bequeathed the estate to the Institut de France, and it remains to this day essentially as it was back then when he gifted it to the people of France. Far less over the top than the Palace of Versailles, it is perhaps more tastefully decorated and has an enormous selection of collected art and sculptures. With Versailles, it was all about the King, whereas here it's all about the art and the animals.
