Musée vivant du Cheval
Museum devoted to the relationship between humans and horses, housed in the 18th-century Grandes Écuries on the Chantilly estate.
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About the museum
The Musée vivant du Cheval occupies the Grandes Écuries of Chantilly, a building erected between 1719 and 1735 by the architect Jean Aubert for Louis-Henri de Bourbon, seventh Prince of Condé. This monumental building, designed to house a large number of horses, is considered one of the largest princely stables in Europe.
The museum opened in June 2013 in the fifteen rooms of the Cour des Remises. It is conceived as both an art museum and an ethnology museum: it shows the place the horse has held in many civilisations, at work, in war, in hunting, in leisure and in the arts.
The collections include saddlery, horse-drawn carriages, riding equipment, paintings, drawings and prints, sculptures and objets d’art. The site is also a working stable: an equestrian company presents shows and commented demonstrations all year round, and horses, ponies and donkeys live there.
Highlights
- Fifteen rooms devoted to the relationship between humans and horses
- Collections of saddlery, horse-drawn carriages and riding equipment
- Paintings, sculptures and objets d’art on the theme of the horse
- Equestrian shows and performances under the great dome
- Horses, ponies and donkeys living in the stables
Permanent exhibition
- Musée vivant du Cheval – Fifteen rooms present the place of the horse in civilisations through saddlery, carriages, equipment, paintings and sculptures.
- Founded
- 2013
- Operated by
- Domaine de Chantilly (Institut de France)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €21 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €17.50Children aged 7 to 25 and students, teachers (Pass Éducation), job seekers, recipients of the RSA or of the minimum old-age allowance (minimum vieillesse), licence holders of the Fédération française d’équitation, members of the Institut de France |
| Children & teens | €17.50free up to age 6 · Free admission for under-7s; reduced rate from age 7 to 25. |
| Seniors | –No specific rate for seniors. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · One-day ticket free on presentation of the Carte Mobilité Inclusion; reduced rate for shows. |
| Students & apprentices | €17.50On presentation of proof. |
| Families | €55One-day ticket for 2 adults and 2 or 3 children aged 7 to 17. |
| Equestrian show “Kalendae” with visit to the Grandes Écuries (September 17 to November 1) | €24Reduced rate €19; free for under-3s on a parent's lap. |
| One-day ticket with the “Kalendae” show | €32Reduced rate €26. |
| Park ticket | €9Reduced rate €7; no access to the Grandes Écuries. |
| Two-day ticket (two consecutive days) | €26Reduced rate €21. |
| Immersive detective game “Le cavalier noir” at the Grandes Écuries (2 to 6 players, 1 hour 30 minutes, February 14 to October 31) | €70Price per game. |
There is no ticket for the museum alone: the visit to the Grandes Écuries is included in the one-day estate ticket (château, park and Grandes Écuries) and in the show ticket. The one-day ticket is timed for entry to the château. An extra €3 applies for the Cabinet des Livres. An annual pass is offered from €30. Friends of the Louvre museum receive the reduced rate (excluding shows).
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Grandes Écuries are on one level and the museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility, but the cobbled ground makes the route difficult. A wheelchair can be lent subject to availability. Disabled parking on P2, drop-off point in front of the Grandes Écuries.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €55 · One-day ticket for 2 adults and 2 or 3 children aged 7 to 17. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
Free admission for under-7s. Pushchairs and frameless baby carriers are allowed in the Grandes Écuries, but pushchairs cannot be lent. Equestrian displays, the show and the detective game for families.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gare de Chantilly-Gouvieux
TER from Paris Gare du Nord to Chantilly-Gouvieux (about 25 minutes) or RER D (about 45 minutes); the Navigo pass is not valid as far as Chantilly.
By car
Paid parking
Car parks P1 (château side) and P2 (Grandes Écuries side); car or 9-seat minibus and motorhome: €5. Free parking for coaches. Free parking on proof for visitors with disabilities.
- Accessible parking
About 40 km from Paris, via the “Chantilly” exits of the A3 and A1 motorways, or “Senlis” from Lille and Brussels. Drop-off point opposite the Grandes Écuries.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
Restaurants and shops on the Chantilly estate.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
The estate offers private hire and filming; the spaces of the Grandes Écuries may be affected.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photos and videos are allowed with respect for the premises; flash and selfie sticks are prohibited inside. |
| Good to know | Under the dome, the equestrian company gives shows and commented 30-minute demonstrations on the basics of riding. The whole estate needs at least half a day. |
