TPAYT

Do you think it’s necessary to book train and Chateau ahead of time on a Friday in June or
should we just get our train tickets at Gare du Nord and entry tickets right at the Chateau?
No horse show that day.
Is that train ever sold out?

StCirq

No, they are TER train tickets so no advance reservations necessary. I doubt you need to book tix in advance for the ch teau, either, though it may make you feel better to do so. Just make sure you check the days the ch teau is open. The first time I went, eons ago, I had lovely views through the gates.

Consider going via Senlis on your way back to Paris. I think you need to use a bus for that (it's been awhile, but Senlis is so worth it).

JulieVikmanis

St. cirq, I think the Chateau is closed on Tuesdays. I learned the hard way too.

justineparis

I love visiting Chantilly.. so civilized after something like Versailles.. lol.. Grounds are nice for a peaceful walk.. do get strawberries ( they are the "real" ones not our monstrosities of no flavor ) and Chantilly cream in the garden cafe on the grounds.

Even if theres no horse show the Horse Museum is pretty interesting.. and the Royal Stables too.

No need to reserve a ticket to Chantilly .. I dont even think you can.. its a commuter train so ive never thought about it.. and Ive gone in june, july, august too.

StCirq

Oh yes, Julie. Even though it was lifetimes ago, I distinctly remember it was a Tuesday. I took a picture of the sign with Les Horaires outside the chateau;( I had gone on and on with a friend of ours what a neat daytrip it would be and how he would love the castle and the grounds and the miniature portrait gallery - boy did I feel stupid.

PalenQ

Chantilly seemed a nice rather upscale suburb and I did notice cafes were serving Creme de Chantilly which was first conjured up in kitchens of tghe chateau (Wiki says):

https://www.google.com/search?q=images+de+cr%C3%A8me+chantilly&tbm=isch&t bo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjnpKi6r_aAhUi0oM KHeNkDTMQsAQIKA&biw=1503&bih=758&dpr=1.25

The chateau is renown for having Europe's largest stables and horse shows and practices are staged regularly for visitors. To me, Chantilly was one of my favorite day trips from Paris and surprising that so relatively few here talk about it.

I did not get to nearby Senlis but as StCirq says really nice I understand - an SNCF bus runs there from tghe Chantilly-gouveaux train station (main train station in Chantilly) and takes 25 minutes each way; running about hourly.

Great Stables - Domaine de Chantilly

I wonder if Paris Museum Pass is valid there like at Versailles - if thinking of a museum pass worth checking out.

FrenchMystiqueTours

I go to Chantilly and Senlis dozens of times each year (going again tomorrow) and the trains are either TER or Intercités trains but there is no need to book in advance. Even if the train is crowded and you have to stand (I never have had to do that) it's only a 25 minute train trip. No need to book tix for the ch teau either. It's never crowded.

TPAYT

Thanks for the response. Glad to hear that we don’t have to book ahead in case it rains.
We had planned to go to the horse show on Sun. 6/17 but it happens to be a Sunday when the riders will be away. We are hoping to see at least a few horse demonstrations with our GD on the Friday we visit.

frenchaucoeur

We've been to Chantilly a couple of times, and it's always been nearly deserted. Don't know why--are people put off because it was reconstructed in the nineteenth century? If so, they're missing a very beautiful, magical place. I don't know much about the fine points of architecture, but I do know a fairytale castle when I see one!

Good thing you're planning to visit on a Friday. On Mondays the restaurants in the town are shut--at least they were the last time we were starving and searching desperately for a place for dinner.

PalenQ

Castle maniacs can also visit Compiegne, another monumental castle often overlooked right on doorsteps of Paris, as it is just about 40 minutes down the same train line.

kerouac

I rhink it just has to do with the fact that there are so many ch teaux available and just a few big "stars" (Versailles...). Visiting just one ch teau is usually enough for most people except in the Loire valley where there is a real variety of styles. So places like Chantilly or Fontainebleau are basically never crowded. The horse museum can get crowded on days when there is a big show because local families take their kids there.