Musée de la Dentelle de Chantilly

About the museum

Lace production in Chantilly dates back to the 17th century, as part of the great movement of lace-making centers in northern France. In 1694, Anne de Bavière, princesse de Condé, founded the first lace-makers' school there. Lace, first called “blonde” because of its pale yellow silk, became black in the early 19th century and enjoyed great success throughout Europe, notably with Empress Eugénie under the Second Empire. In the second half of the century, mechanization wiped out Chantilly's lace-makers.

The museum is located on the first floor of the Pavillon Egler, a former neo-Louis XIII mansion built of brick and stone at the end of the 19th century. Together with the cultural center and the media library, it forms a cultural hub in the heart of Chantilly. After a year of works, it reopened in 2016, during the Heritage Days, with a renewed museography.

The permanent collection brings together shawls, fans, parasols and dresses, as well as preparatory drawings, pattern cartoons, lace pillows (carreaux) and bobbins (fuseaux). It explains the techniques, production process, key figures and features that established the reputation of “Chantilly” lace. Since 2019, three rooms have hosted temporary exhibitions showing lace's influence on fashion, printmaking, drawing or photography. In the courtyard, Philip Brooker's work “Dentelles en selle” is permanently on display.

Highlights

• Collection of hand-made Chantilly lace, including unique pieces
• Shawls, fans, parasols and 19th-century dresses
• Lace-makers' tools: pillows, bobbins, pattern cartoons
• History of black lace and “blonde” lace
• Philip Brooker's “Dentelles en selle” in the courtyard

Permanent exhibitions

• Collection permanente de dentelles de Chantilly – Shawls, fans, parasols, dresses, drawings, pattern cartoons, lace pillows and bobbins explaining the history and making of Chantilly lace.
• Dentelles en selle – Philip Brooker's work, permanently displayed in the museum courtyard.

Operated by

Ville de Chantilly

Admission & discounts

Also free for Amis du musée members, holders of the ICOM card, journalists, and any Chantilly resident accompanied by at least two people from outside the town. Partnership with the Louvre-Lens: holders of the Découverte, Curiosité and Liberté cards pay €3 instead of €5; a full-price Lace Museum ticket less than three months old entitles the holder to €9 instead of €12 for the Louvre-Lens temporary exhibitions.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The museum welcomes children of all ages, from early childhood to high school, for guided visits; each pupil receives a booklet to fill in. Free for under 18s.

Getting there & parking

By car: 40 minutes from Paris, 1 hour 30 minutes from Amiens. The museum is at 34 rue d'Aumale, near place Omer Vallon and the Petite Pelouse.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit