Chantilly in France

Chantilly Racecourse 

[French: Hippodrome de Chantilly]

 

Horse museum

[French: Grandes Ecuries - Musée du Cheval]

Château de Chantilly and pond

Château de Chantilly

(near Statue Équestre d'Anne de Montmorency)

Chantilly Castle from the garden

 

Chantilly Castle Garden 

[French: Jardins du Château de Chantilly]

swan in Chantilly French garden [French: Jardin français] 

 

Cygnes Lake & English garden 

in Chantilly park

[French: Lac des Cygnes & Jardin anglais 

dans le Parc du Château de Chantilly]

sunset of Château de Chantilly

Episode of Hippodrome de Chantilly & Château de Chantilly

Tomo likes horse racing. Tomo was expecting to see horse racing in France.

We went to Chantilly on weekend. However horse racing was closed. Horse museum seemed to be closed. We were disappointed. But we could see racecourse [French: Hippodrome]. We were free to see. We just imagined horse racing there. Anyway the Chantilly racecourse was very beautiful.

Horse museum [Grandes Ecuries- Musée vivant du Cheval] was just infront of the racecourse. The building was also beautiful. We could find the statue of horse on the wall of the entrance. It was unique.

We decided to move to the Chantilly Castle Garden. Actually we could see the Chantilly Castle from Chantilly racecourse. It was the nice spot to see the whole Chantilly castle and pond together. It was very beautiful. We took lots of photos there.

We entered the garden [Jardins du Château de Chantilly]. It was huge!! We were surprised at the largeness of the garden. Moreover the garden was well organized. Especially French garden [Jardin français] was well ordered. We could find swan in French garden.

While walking in the garden, we could enjoy Chantilly castle [Château de Chantilly] from various angles.

We really liked English garden [Jardin anglais]. There were several swans in the lake. We could understand why this lake was called swan lake [Lac des Cygnes]. When we went there, it was autumn. We could enjoy autumn colors. It was very peaceful. We felt time stopped. We could stay for a long time there.

More than anything, Chantilly castle was splendid! Château de Chantilly became our most favorite castle. The beauty of the Chantilly castle impressed us. The reflection of the castle in the water was breathtaking.We really liked the Chantilly castle during sunset. It was so romantic.

We only walked in the park but we were so satisfied with the beauty of Chantilly. So time passed fast. We strongly recommend Chantilly to visit!

 

 

For your information

It is said that Hippodrome de Chantilly is the oldest racecourses in France. 
In Horse museum, we can see training demonstrations, equestrian show and harness collection.

Horse museum is a stable. Horses for horse racing was still bred there.

Inside Château de Chantilly, there is Condé museum [French: Musée Condé]. 

There is a library in Petit Chateau. It contains 13,000 old books. 

Château de Chantilly

Location: 7 rue Connétable, Le Château, 60500

Department: Oise in Hauts-de-France

Open from 10h - 17h (Park is open until 18h)

Closed on Tuesdays.

Access: 25 or 45 minutes by train from Gard du Nord in Paris. Get off at Chantilly-Gouvieux station.

Sightseeing in Nice, France

Nice is the major city of French Riviera [Côte d'Azur].

 white and blue parasols along French Riviera

 

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- Sightseeing tour bus -

open double-decker sightseeing bus in Nice.

It runs the boulevard "Promenade des Anglais"along the coast.

We found a beautiful white monument near Jardin Albert 1er.

 

 

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the Russian Orthodox Church 

[French: Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas]

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- National Marc Chagall Museum -

[French: Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall]

the stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall

in National Marc Chagall Museum

 

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rental bike in Nice.

 

Episode of Nice

Tomo & Chouchou went to Nice where is the major city of French Riviera [Côte d'Azur]. We felt that Nice was really loved by the sun. The scenery of white and blue parasols along French Riviera was very typical sight of Nice. It was so dazzling and beautiful. Nice is facing the Mediterranean so the area around the coast is flat but most of other parts are hilly. It is too hilly to walk around Nice. We took public transportation such as city buses.
We bought a French Riviera Pass including the fare of city-bus tour and city bus.
Sightseeing bus of Nice is open double-decker bus and free to get on and get off the bus at 11 spots. There is an audio guide in 8 languages which explains about Nice. Sea wind made us feel good as the bus was open double-decker.
The sightseeing bus runs the boulevard along the coast called "Promenade des Anglais".
We found a beautiful white monument near Jardin Albert 1er.

It was very beautiful to see the sun & shining Mediterranean sea in the daytime, but also it wass beautiful to see the night view.

We visited Russian Orthodox Church [Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas]. It was a bit strange for us to find a Russian building in Nice. It was worth to visiting such a splendid Cathedral. Unluckily we couldn't enter inside Russian Orthodox Church because there was a wedding there. Anyway we were satisfied to see impressive Russian architecture of Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas even from outside. 

 
In Nice, there is the National Marc Chagall Museum [Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall]. Tomo likes the work of Marc Chagall so Tomo could enjoy it a lot. We especailly liked the stained-glass windows by Chagall. Inside the Marc Chagall Museum, we can buy some souvenirs of the painting of Chagall.
Of course, Tomo bought several postcards of Chagall works and so on at the souvenir shop in the museum. The Marc Chagall Museum is located on the hill.

 

We really enjoyed the blue Mediterranean, French Riviera, beach, the sun, and Mediterranean cuisine !

Petit Train

French Riviera Pass includes the fare of Petit Train.
If you focus on enjoying around the Old Town or Baie des Anges, Petit Train de Nice will be a good choice. Petit Train is 50-min guided tour in 8 languages.

In Old Town

There are many kinds of shops such as restaurants and souvenir shops. So it's very convenient area for the tourists.

 

Tomo & Chouchou's advice for Nice

1) The Rossian Orthodox Church [Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas] is closed during lunch time so please check it out before visiting.We also recommend you to go to the Russian Orthodox Church in the morning just for in case of the wedding celemony.
 

2)We can rent a bike in Nice. It looked very practical. If you are interested in looking around Nice by bike, renting a bike would be good. It is very useful. We don't need to check the bus time table. We can use our time effectively.

 

 

Relating articles

Monaco is not far from Nice! We can go by bus!


* Monte Carlo, Monaco

* Monaco Ville, Monaco

MONACO-VILLE in Monaco

We took a bus no.100 from Nice to Monaco.

 

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We arrived in Monaco !

We got off the bus at "Place d'Armes".

 

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We walked up the Avenue de la Porte Neuve.

the view from Avenue de la Porte Neuve

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We walked up more.

Port Hercule is the typical beautiful scenery of Monaco.

 

 

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We kept walking along the street.

 

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We entered Oceanographic museum 

[French: Musée océanographique de Monaco] with French Riviera Pass.

Oceanographic museum 

[French: Musée océanographique de Monaco ]

(the view from St. Martin Gardens [French: Jardins Saint-Martin])

  

  statue of Prince Albert I / Prince of Monaco

[French: Prince Alber 1er de Monaco]

in St.Martin Gardens [French: Jardins St-Martin].

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We walked more in the garden.

We could see the Port de Fontvieille.

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We went out from the garden.

Monaco Cathedral/ Saint Nicolas Cathedral

/ Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

[French: Cathédrale de Monaco / Cathédrale de Monaco Saint Nicholas Cathedral / Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée de Monaco]

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Inside the Monaco Cathedral

modern pipe organ above the narthex in Monaco Cathedral.

 

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the post office in Monaco

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We followed the small street "Rue Compte Felix Gastaldi" 

from the post office.

 

We found the Prince's Palace of Monaco 

[French: Palais Princier de Monaco/  

Le Palais des Princes de Monaco].

Episode of Monaco-Ville

Tomo & Chouchou went to Monaco by bus from Nice. There is the bus which directly goes from Nice to Monaco. Bus stop for bus no. 100 in Nice is located on Rue Catherine Ségurane. Bus fare for one-way is 1.50 euros. It was cheap!

Tomo & Chouchou wanted to see Monaco-Ville at first, so we got off the at "Place d'Armes" bus stop. Then, we went up Avenue de la Porte Neuve. Then, amazing scenery all around! Clear blue sky, typical Mediterranean mountains & many colorful buildings. Wooooow "THIS IS MONACO!!"
 We climbed up the slope more, then we could see more beautiful scenery of Port Hercule ! Full of white boats! We could see "Le grand Casino" on the other side of the river.
After walking along the street, we arrived at Oceanographic museum [Musée océanographique de Monaco]. It was very beautiful white buildings. 

We bought French Riviera Pass so we could enter Oceanographic museum for free. Inside Oceanographic museum, there is an aquarium. We could see fish. 

We could also see the shark's teeth and bones there.

But we enjoyed more behind Oceanographic museum. It was beautiful to see Oceanographic museum from Saint-Martin Gardens [Jardins Saint-Martin].
In the garden, there was the statue of Albert I, Prince of Monaco. Chouchou took a photo with him.
After continuing walking in the garden, we could see a wonderful port "Port de Fontvieille". There were always full of white boats in Monaco/
Outside the garden, there is  Monaco Cathedral [Cathédrale de Monaco Saint Nicholas Cathedral]. Facade of Monaco Cathedral was fantastic. White stones were so beautiful and the architecture was amazing too! Contrast between blue sky and white building was exactly Mediterranean taste. Tree in front of Cathedral was very tropical and nice. 
We went into the Cathedral. The Pipe organ was purple color. It was very modern.
Tomo was surprised to see an aura around Chouchou. :-)

There are city hall and post office near the Cathedral. It seems that we can get the Monaco official stamp on the passport at City hall, Monaco station or Tourist information. Unfortunately Tomo forgot to bring the passport so Tomo couldn't get the official stamp. 

Anyway, we went to the post office in Monaco. Plate of Monaco Post office was very antique. It was a very beautiful post office.

We followed the small street "Rue de Comte F.Gastaldi" from the post office. Then, we achieved the Palace square [Palace de Palais]. We could find the Palais Princier de Monaco/Le Palais des Princes de Monaco. Ther is normally the ceremonial Changing of the guard in the Palace square [Palace du Palais] at exactly 5 min. before noon. Bell rings at noon. Unfortunately the ceremonial Changing of the Guard was cancelled... we were so disappointed. Anyway we could see a few guards, and we could see their uniform and enjoyed the automosphere of the Palace of Monaco.

 

 

Tomo & Chouchou's advices for Monaco-Ville

1) We can get the Monaco official stamp on the passport at the City Halll, Monaco Station or Tourist Information. If you are interested in collecting stamps, it can be good to go and get it !

2) At 5 minutes before noon, There is the ceremonial changing of the guard in the Palace square. Many people are waiting to see it. If you want to see it well, you had better go much earlier to take a good watching spot or photo spot!



Relating articles
 

* Monte-Carlo, Monaco

* Sightseeing in Nice, France

* Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France