art city - picardie - chaalis : Senlis Tourism Office

abbaye de chaalis - parcs - jardins - randonnees - senlis

Fontaine-Chaalis

Largest district of the Community, it is to a large extent covered by the Ermenonville forest where the undulating hills offer lovely walks amongst forests with many different varieties of trees.
A varied subsoil hosting both oak and beech trees, as well as pine trees on siliceous soil, including the "Mer de Sable" (Sand Sea), remains the best known and the most fragile ecological jewel.

Ponds feed the Aunette, tributary of La Nonette which in the south borders the administrative centre; quite ordinary except for the very simple Saint-Saturnin church, only example of a religious building constructed under the Restoration, in 1817, thanks to Kellermann, victorious at Valmy, marshal of the Empire, owner of half of the forest and a castle which does not have any original features.

In the north of the district there is the Fourcheret tithe barn (private property) which belongs to the Chaalis Abbey, to the south of the territory, whose imposing ruins can be visited, as well as the Jacquemart-André Museum, located in the abbey house.

Chaalis Abbay

Situated in the heart of the Ermenonville forest in a patch of greenery scattered with statues, basins, ornamental ponds, the Chaalis Abbey is a site, which bears testimony to different periods in history.
Louis VI, the night before his death, decided in memory of Charles le Bon, to establish the royal abbey of Chaalis. Louis VII witnessed the implementation of this project. It was in 1219 that this site was consecrated by the Bishop of Senlis (Brother Guérin) ; the abbey chapel was constructed under Saint Louis, decorated today with admirable Renaissance frescos of Nicolo dell'Abbate.
In 1735, the architect constructed the northern wing of the cloister, which was transformed into a castle in the 19th century by Mrs. de Vatry. Prince Murat became the owner of Chaalis. It was in 1902 that Nélie Jacquemart-André bought this property of more than 1000 ha and gathered together one of the most important collections of our time, of all centuries and from the four corners of the world (furniture, paintings, sculptures, objets d'art…).

Open every day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm for the estate and from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm for the museum. From November to February, the museum is open on Sundays only.

Perfume factory (Fondation Yves Rocher – Institut de France): activities for everyone, introduction to the fifth sense and manufacturing of a customised perfume. Open every day for groups by reservation, Sundays at 15h (from 1st March to 11 November).

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