Château de Chantilly.

Located just north of Paris, the Château de Chantilly is a sprawling estate that escaped the typical fate of French monuments by remaining exactly as its last owner, the Duke of Aumale, left it. The site is split between the 16th-century Petit Château and the 19th-century reconstruction of the Grand Château, which houses the Musée Condé. This collection is remarkably dense, trailing only the Louvre in its assembly of pre-1850 paintings, including works by Raphael and Delacroix. Beyond the art, the estate is defined by its relationship with horses; the 18th-century Great Stables are among the largest in the world and still host live equestrian performances. The grounds, designed by André Le Nôtre, feature grand canals and a rustic hamlet where the famous Chantilly cream was popularized.