The guidebook I have at home has very little about Chantilly in it - has anyone here done a day trip there - what all did you do? was it easy to get to the Chateau? and restaurant rec's? Merci! SueC1

I have done a day trip to Chantilly and nearby Senlis on the same day. Both are worth a visit in their own ways.

I enjoyed the Chateau and grounds in Chantilly but prefered the village of Senlis over the village of Chantilly.

Senlis has a few nice places to eat lunch. I loved the Italian place right in town- great pizza! It was packed with locals. Just follow your nose.

You can take the train from Paris to Chantilly and then jump on the local bus to take you directly to the Chateau. The bus departure is timed with the train arrival and leaves from the train station parking lot. You can also take the same bus to Senlis. It is a 15 minute ride.

For Paris day trips, I highly recommend the guidebook called "An Hour from Paris". If you cannot find it before you leave home (do a google search), stop in Brentano's bookstore when you arrive in Paris and pick up a copy. The details of all aspects (how to get there, eating, sites, etc)are terrific. There is even a recommended walk through each town. There are about 20 different day trips included in the book.

I think you need a better guidebook, although they have a comprehensive website, if you want to look at it.

I'd recommend Earl Steinbicker's Day Trips in France as another book, unless you really only plan that one day trip and don't want to spend the money for it. It has all the info on sightseeing, transportation, etc., and includes a map.

It wasn't hard to get to the chateau, I just walked (using that book's map). I like to walk, but I imagine it could have been a mile. I'm sure there are other options and probably taxis at the station.

Chantilly is a small town, I don't plan restaurants much for day trips like that and don't know names, unfortunately.

I ony went to the chateau and its gardens. The chateau has an art collection, though. YOu can also go to the horse museum thing in the equestrian center.

I went last year, unfortunately a relative drove me so can't help with bus/ train . I do know you get the train for Chantilly at Gare Du Nord.
The walk looks to be about 25 minutes, if one is a walker. The path looked lovely, winding by the forests and nice houses.

I ate at the little cafe on the grounds at Chantilly, it is near the little Hamlet.
I had the best cheese plate ever there,, it was delish, and of course, the speciality of the house , which was strawberry pie with CHANTILLY cream,, heaven. They served strawberries about 3 or 4 ways, all with the delicious cream( a lightly sweetened whipped cream)

We went last May. We took the train from Gare du Nord. Our destination was the racecourse. We headed out of the station and walked following signs to the racecourse. We only got lost once. We ended up following some men into the trackmen's entrance and got some great backside of the track pictures. We had a winning few races. The weather was very windy and the skies dark so we headed out and walked from the track following the road which took us past the main entrance to the Chateau. We didn't go in but continued on past the stables and were now on the opposite side of the track where we watched a race go by right near us. We walked through the town. It was around 2:00 and most everything appeared to be closed for the lunch hour. We headed back to the train and into Paris.

Opaldog,, you didn't even go in the Stables and the Horse Musuem,, what a shame, I am not a horsey person but even I must say it is a very good museum and the stables were interesting also.

suec! you know you can google Chantilly Chateau and go on their very good website( and click on the icon for english). I really enjoyed my visit there, so much quieter then Versailles( which I love btw) more emphazise on the paintings and less on the furnishings and decor etc. . The audio guide was very helpful. The Chapel was lovely.

It is not Versailles, but it was a very pleasant day.

No, we didn't go in the stables and museum. Maybe we would do it on a future trip. Our main focus of the day was the racecourse. When we travel we try to go to a track and bet a few races. We have also been to Longchamps; another great racing experience. In Ireland we have been to the Curragh and Limerick race course. I'd like to get to the racecourses in England some year.

Well my relatives who live near Chantilly told me how famous the area was for training and racing horses,,(n I was quite ignorant of this) they were very proud of the training facitlities also.
Next time I hope you can at least see the Horse Museum,, all about horses,,, I imagine you would enjoy it ..

>>>The chateau has an art collection, though.<<<

This is the understatement of the month. Chantilly's art collection is the second best in France right after the Louvre and one of the best in the world.

Chateau Chantilly is overwhelming in every respect: art collection, architecture, park.

Chateau Chantilly is a first-rank destination in France, not to miss.

We did it not as a daytrip from Paris but had a rental car and stayed very close in a nice castle hotel:
http://www.lechateaudelatour.fr/