Musée Condé

The private apartments of the Petit Chateau provide a view into the lives of the original inhabitants of the Chateau de Chantilly.

But it's the excellent collection of Italian and French paintings in the Musée Condé that make a visit inside the chateau so worthwhile. It's apparently the best collection of Classical painting outside the Louvre.

When John and I visited, there was a fantastic exhibition of the drawings of 16th century draughtsman and painter, François Clouet on view.

We're both big fans of his drawings - so delicate and refined and it was obvious that everyone in the Valois court wanted to be drawn by him.

The exhibition fit right in to the Musée Condé's own wonderful collection of Clouet and court painters of his period. Above we find a Portrait of Gabrielle d'Estréos (1573-1599) done in the style of the 16th century French school.

Add the wonderful collection of Musée Condé to the spectacular architecture and setting of Chateau de Chantilly and you have all the best reasons to make the daytrip from Paris.