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IN BRIEF
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In 2025, the Château de Chantilly takes the prize and becomes the “Favorite Monument of the French”! Nestled in the heart of the Forêt de Chantilly, this gem, reconstructed several centuries after its medieval foundation, charms as much with its park designed by Le Nôtre as with the treasures of the Musée Condé. It outstrips the Phare de Cordouan and the ramparts of Guérande, confirming an aura that extends far beyond the famous eponymous cream.
In 2025, it’s official: the Château de Chantilly earns the title of “Favorite Monument of the French”. A crowning achievement for a unique ensemble in France: a princely residence reconstructed in modern times, a French-style park designed by Le Nôtre over 115 hectares, the majestic Forêt de Chantilly spanning more than 6,000 hectares, and the Musée Condé, one of the most beautiful showcases of ancient art in the country. Against illustrious competitors like the Phare de Cordouan and the ramparts of Guérande, the site in the Oise has won hearts. Here’s why this triumph seemed destined… with a whip.
In 2025, the Château de Chantilly is designated as the “Favorite Monument of the French”
A crowning glory that stirs enthusiasm
After a 2024 marked by the very “driving” victory of the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, the 2025 trophy goes to a monument that combines elegance, history, and great art. The Château de Chantilly, often associated (with a gourmet wink) with the famous eponymous cream — whose invention on site is not absolutely certain —, asserts itself as a given. Nestled in the heart of the Forêt de Chantilly, just steps away from a legendary racecourse, it embodies the very idea of a “total” monument: architectural beauty, exceptional gardens, leading art collections, and a natural backdrop that would make many postcards pale.
A monumental setting: architecture, gardens, and forest
Originally built in the 14th century and extensively remodeled four centuries later, the Château as we admire it today is a masterpiece of historical French architecture. Its park, designed by André Le Nôtre (the brilliant artisan of the Gardens of Versailles), unfolds its vistas over 115 hectares, while the adjoining forest extends its pathways over more than 6,000 hectares. Inside, the Musée Condé gathers exceptional paintings, drawings, engravings, and manuscripts, forming one of the richest collections of ancient art in France. This concentration of elegance also explains a constant influx: over 500,000 visitors pass through the site’s doors every year, elevating it to the rank of the number one attraction in the department of Oise.
How is a “Favorite Monument” born?
The principle is reminiscent of the “Favorite Village of the French” — which recently highlighted Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye in Isère. Here, the system retains fourteen sites: one per region of mainland France, plus one site for overseas. Public voting decides, bringing forth a winner that condenses the French attachment to their heritage. From edition to edition, the rankings have already distinguished places as varied as the Citadel of Belfort, the Stanislas Square in Nancy, the Maritime Station of Cherbourg, or even the Château de Sedan. In 2025, the winds blew toward the ponds, water mirrors, and galleries of the Château de Chantilly.
The podium and an XL selection
The 2025 podium thus celebrates Chantilly at the top, followed by the majestic Phare de Cordouan in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, true “king of lighthouses” standing at the entrance of the estuary of the Gironde, and the captivating ramparts of Guérande in Pays de la Loire, whose stones tell a thousand years of Breton and Atlantic history.
Behind this trio, the selection continues to dream: the mythical Pen Duick for Brittany, the powerful Citadel of Besançon in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the spectacular Viaduc de Garabit in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and the bright Place du Capitole in Toulouse for Occitanie.
The overseas territory is represented by the lush Jardin botanique de Valombreuse in Guadeloupe. There are also the refined Château de Haroué (Grand Est), the iconic Château de Chenonceau (Centre-Val de Loire), the proud Citadel of Calvi (Corsica), the Villa Les Rhumbs – Musée Christian Dior (Normandy), the ancient amphitheater of Arles (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) and, in the Île-de-France region, the majestic Basilica-Cathedral of Saint-Denis, necropolis of the kings and matrix of Gothic architecture.
Why Chantilly has conquered France
Because it ticks all the boxes: a long history (from medieval origins to lavish reconstructions), a landscape designed by a master of garden art, a museum collection worthy of a major national museum, and a natural setting that transforms the visit into an escape. The meeting of art, nature, and memory is particularly sensitive here: a water mirror reflects a façade, a grove unveils a statue, a room reveals a masterpiece. Chantilly does not just aim to be beautiful; it tells stories, surprises, and makes one want to return.
Chantilly practical: preparing your visit
For hours, exhibitions, events, and prices, the most reliable source remains the official site: chateaudechantilly.fr. Plan to spend time: between the grand apartments, the stroll along the canals, the discovery of the Musée Condé, the water games, and the temptation of a detour by the racecourse, one can easily spend the day. And if you love gardens, also read this green escape to uncover other botanical treasures: Discovery of botanical treasures.
Longing for elsewhere? Your next inspirations
The taste for iconic monuments does not stop at Chantilly. You can prolong your city stroll with this selection of architectural icons: Iconic monuments of cities. For an unusual anecdote about flying heritage, dive into the history of a plane classified as a historical monument: When a plane becomes a monument. Heading to the United States? This cultural walk in Washington D.C. offers museums and monuments galore: Cultural exploration in Washington D.C.. And if light installations fascinate you, succumb to one of the most beloved public artworks in Los Angeles: an artistic forest of lights.
Nod to the “Favorite Village” and the spirit of voting
This popular success reminds us that the French love their heritage for what it evokes: pride, memories, stories to pass on. Just like the “Favorite Village of the French” — which recently honored Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye — the “Favorite Monument of the French” does not pit sites against each other as much as it celebrates them. This year, it rewards a place where the grace of stones and the poetry of gardens intertwine. And yes, you might leave with the irresistible desire to savor a true crème Chantilly… even if the story of its birth remains deliciously frothy.
