The Domaine de Chaalis, located in Fontaine-Chaalis in the Oise, is one of the 14 finalists for the 2023 edition of the television program Le Monument Favorite des Français, presented by Stéphane Bern on France 3. The monument was selected to represent the Hauts-de-France, among the hortillonnages of Amiens and the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle. Vote to support this jewel of Hauts-de-France.
Since its first broadcast in September 2014, the French Favorite Monument program has become an unmissable event for heritage lovers. Presented by Stéphane Bern, it invites viewers to vote online for their favorite monument from a selection of 42 emblematic places throughout France.
This year, the Chaalis estate proudly represents the Hauts-de-France region. In the region, two other monuments had been selected to compete. These are the hortillonnages of Amiens (Somme) and the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle in Lille (Nord).
Located in the heart of the Ermenonville massif, the Chaalis estate, steeped in nine centuries of history, extends over 1,000 hectares of land, forests and ponds. Founded in 1137 by Louis VI, the royal abbey became during the 19th century a place of residence imbued with romanticism.
Over the centuries, the abbey went through periods of decline and restoration. After intense intellectual activity in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the abbey palace was converted into a castle during the 19th century.
The great collector Nélie Jacquemart-André acquired it in 1902. Portraitist of All-Paris under the Second Empire, she restored the estate and brought together a collection of nearly 4,000 paintings, furniture and works of art.
Burial of Nélie Jacquemart in the chapel of Sainte-Marie de Chaalis • © Julien Guéry / FTV
On her death, she bequeathed the estate to the Institut de France, which has ensured its conservation and promotion ever since.
Today, its chapel decorated with frescoes by the great Primaticcio in the 16th century is often presented as the “Sistine of the Oise”.
Details of the fresco in the chapel of the Abbey of Chaalis. • © FTV
The park is home to a rose garden classified as a “Remarkable Garden”, it hosts the Rose Days every second weekend in June. This event attracts thousands of lovers of this iconic flower.
The rose garden of the Chaalis estate in the Oise. • © Micha Henrotte/H&K
Nearby, the Jacquemart-André museum displays an impressive collection of works of art, including paintings, sculptures and decorative arts.
Portrait painted by Nélie Jacquemart, exhibited at the Domaine de Chaalis, Oise • © Julien Guéry / FTV
The votes are already open. For the Chaalis estate to become the favorite Monument of the French, you can vote on this pageor by telephone on 32 45 (€0.80/min+call price).
Voting is open until July 21, noon.
The Chaalis estate will have to face:
– The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon in the Rhône for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region
– Cluny Abbey in Saône-et-Loire for Burgundy-Franche-Comté
– The Citadel of Port-Louis in Port-Louis in Morbihan for Brittany
– The Royal Castle of Blois in Blois in the Loir-et-Cher for the Centre-Val de Loire
– The Citadel of Ajaccio in Ajaccio in Corse-du-Sud
– The Fortified Castle of Sedan in the Ardennes for the Grand Est
– The Domaine du Chaalis in Fontaine-Chaalis in Oise for Hauts-de-France
– The National Library of France Richelieu site in Paris for Ile-de-France
– Fort Saint-Louis in Fort-de-France in Martinique for overseas territories
– Le Hara National du Pin in Orne for Normandy
– The Coubre lighthouse in La Tremblade in Charente-Maritime for New Aquitaine
– The Place Nationale in Montauban in Tarn-et-Garonne for Occitanie
– The Trois-mâts Belem in Nantes in Loire-Atlantique for the Pays de la Loire
– The ancient site of Vaison-la-Romaine in the Vaucluse for Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The 2023 laureate will be revealed during the program The Favorite Monument of the French, broadcast on France 3, on the occasion of the 40th edition of the European Heritage Days.
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