Ecouen and Chantilly Castles and Senslis Day Trip from Paris by Minivan

Description:

• Your day of discovering the Pays de France will begin with a visit to the Castle of Ecouen .The family of Anne de Montmorency owned the Castle of Ecouen and they served the Kings of France since the 13th century. You will visit the property of this great Lord of the Renaissance who grew up very close to François 1st and then thrived under the protection of Henry 2nd . Ecouen is a residence like no others, it contains the ambitions and achievements of a powerful man who was also a patron, an aesthete and an art lover. The castle is now the national museum of the Renaissance.

  Your tour then continues onto Chantilly for lunch (drinks included) in Vatel's old kitchens located in the cellars of the Chateau de Chantilly.

  The afternoon begins with the guided visit of the Chateau de Chantilly which was also originally owned by Anne de Montmorency. Standing in the middle of the water, the Chateau de Chantilly is part of a series of prestigious monuments dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Located in the Castle, the Conde museum presents, respecting the original hanging of the 19th century, an important collection of paintings and drawings from the "Ecole Francaise" (Clouet, Poussin, Mignard, Nattier, Watteau, Ingres, Delacroix), as well as masterpieces from the Italian painters (Fra Angelico, Raphael, Carrache) and numerous masterpieces from the Northern Schools ( Van Dyck and Teniers).

  To conclude the day, you will visit the city of Senlis. It is a small medieval town famous for its very old cathedral with its original stained glass windows. Also enjoy Senlis for it's many little streets and old buildings, some dating from the 3rd century. It is lovely to walk around and discover it's many joys on our own. The royal town of Senlis, with its picturesque paved lanes, magnificent facades, majestic ramparts and numerous monuments will charm you with its magic and transport you back in time.

• © Viator2013