Abbaye royale de Notre-Dame et Toussaints de Chaalis

About the museum

The royal abbey of Chaalis was founded in 1137 by King Louis VI the Fat. In the Middle Ages it was an important intellectual centre. Its church, consecrated in 1219, measured 92 meters by 46 and is probably the first Cistercian church in the Gothic style in the Île-de-France. The Sainte-Marie chapel, in the High Gothic style, was commissioned by Saint Louis and has housed relics since 1262. In the Renaissance, Cardinal Ippolito d’Este had frescoes painted there by Primaticcio.

After the Revolution the barns were sold and most of the church disappeared. In the 19th century Madame de Vatry acquired the estate, restored the chapel and transformed the 18th-century abbot’s palace into a country residence. Nélie Jacquemart-André later gathered her collections there, as she had in her Paris townhouse, now a museum, and had electricity installed thanks to a turbine as early as 1902. She was buried in the chapel in 1912 and bequeathed the estate to the Institut de France.

The estate also includes the ruins of the abbey, a space devoted to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a restored hydroelectric power station, a park and a rose garden created in 1998. The château museum is under restoration until spring 2028 and can currently only be seen during the guided tour “Les coulisses du chantier” (Behind the Scenes of the Site).

Highlights

• Ruins of the 13th-century Cistercian abbey church
• Sainte-Marie chapel decorated with frescoes by Primaticcio
• Rose garden, classified as a “Jardin remarquable”
• Guided tour of the restoration site of the château museum
• Hydroelectric power station of Nélie Jacquemart-André

Permanent exhibitions

• Ruines de l'abbaye et chapelle Sainte-Marie – Ruins of the Gothic abbey church and a chapel decorated with Renaissance frescoes by Primaticcio.
• Roseraie et parc – Rose garden created in 1998, gardens and park in a wooded valley.
• Musée Jacquemart-André de Chaalis – Château museum under restoration, visible only during the guided tour “Les coulisses du chantier”.

Founded

1136

Operated by

Institut de France

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the guided tour “Les coulisses du chantier”, the park, the ruins, the chapel, the rose garden and the writers’ path (sentier des écrivains). Free entry upon proof for children under 7, job seekers and recipients of minimum social benefits, journalists, tour guides, coach drivers and holders of the ICOM card. The estate is part of the Les Incontournables de l’Oise et du Val d’Oise network (preferential rate from the second site visited). On-site payment by cash, card, cheque or chèques-vacances.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The park has wide unpaved paths, sometimes uneven, which are difficult in wet weather or in winter; benches line the route. The guided tour of the site is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. The path from the car park is gravel and earth, although it is possible to be dropped off near the main entrance. Guide dogs are admitted. For visitors with an intellectual or cognitive disability, the team offers a tour in a small group by reservation.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly

During the school holidays in zones B and C, treasure hunts, tours and workshops for children aged 4 to 12 are offered; the stories change each period. Perfume workshop on Sundays and a cultural orienteering course with a route for children and families. Pushchairs can be taken throughout the estate thanks to the gravel paths.

Getting there & parking

The estate is 40 km north of Paris, in the Ermenonville forest.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

No restaurant: visitors may picnic on the lawns. Bookshop with books about the site and local products such as honey and rose-flavored sweets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Private hire of areas of the estate for receptions and filming.

Plan your visit