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Welcome to Hooked on Walking Holidays and our walking holidays in France. This particular hiking vacation in France is a walking tour in the stunning region just north of Paris so famous for its Royal Abbeys and Cities. We have graded this self guided walking tour as a level 1 tour which makes it suitable for most walkers. As an integral part of the former Kingdom of France, this region the Senlisis, an area located to the north of Paris, is abundant in treasures. Abbeys, châteaux, cathedrals, manors, forests and ponds give to this region an exceptional richness, all of which you will discover along the paths of this tour. A long breath of fresh air, a French history lesson, a life of luxury, an unforgettable tour close to Paris!
Available daily from 15th April to 15th October
Level 1 self guided tour
Day 1 Arrival at Chantilly
Chantilly is a royal city well-known for its château and forest, the Grandes Ecuries horse stables, and its racecourse which hosts the Grand Prix de Diane each year and attracts members of high society as well as those engaged in the world of the horse racing.
Day 2 Visit of Chantilly 
A day is just enough to discover the rich architectural, cultural and art heritage of Chantilly. The chateau, rebuilt between 1875 and 1885 by Duke of Aumale, houses today the Conde museum that present an impressive collection of paintings and drawings of the “Ecole française” (Poussin, Mignard, Watteau), as well as the Italian works of art (Raphaël, Canache…), and many works of art of “Ecole du Nord” (Van Dyck, Teniers…). Bibliophile, the Duke of Aumale compiled a collection of rare books (30 000 volumes ) and painting manuscripts including the well-known “Tres riches heures du Duc de Berry (15th century) and 40 miniatures of Jean Fouquet. Amongst the artistic objects, there is a beautiful collection of 18th century Chantilly porcelain and the famous 9-carat Pink Diamond. Park lovers will be delighted by the different gardens designed during the last centuries, Le Notre’s French garden, the little park, the Anglo-Chinese garden around the hamlet, the English garden. You will visit the most beautiful stables in the world, Les grandes Ecuries du Prince du Condé” (great stables), an architectural 18th century work of art that houses today the musée vivant du cheval (living horse Museum).
Day 3 Royaumont to Chantilly 9.5 miles 15 km
First a taxi transfer to the magnificent Royaumont Abbey, founded by St Louis in 1228. After visiting the abbey, you will head towards the quiet village of Baillon, with its surprisingly lovely wash-house, and continue through the forest towards Coye-la-Foret and its château. You will walk through the Chantilly Forest to reach the Château de la Reine Blanche, former watermill restored and made into a gothic style hunting lodge. You will continue your hike alongside the ponds of Commelles, used as fishing ponds by the monks of Chaalis Abbey. You will then pass through the large sand-covered paths of the forest to arrive at Chantilly.
Day 4 Chantilly to Senlis 7.5 miles 12 km. 
Today you will pass the chateau and the great stables for the last time before heading to Senlis, through the forest along large horse training sand alleys. Senlis, ancient town built on the top of a hill, is a true history book. In the Jardin du Roy, you will see the remnants of the Roman ramparts (dated back to the 3rd century AC) that circled the city. You will visit the Gallo-Roman arena, the Cathedral built about 1150 on the spot of former sanctuaries, one of the first French Gothic buildings, the romantic ruins of the royal castle, the ancient churches of St Agnan, St Pierre and St Frambourg, the remains of the former St Vincent priory built by St Louis about 1260 and whose church an cloister have been razed in the French Revolution. You will stroll along the winding paved lanes and admire the numerous mansions built in the 17th and 18th centuries. If you choose the upgraded hotel option you shall stay the night in Ermenonville ( taxi transfer from Senlis included )
Day 5 Senlis to Ermenonville 10 miles 16 km
You will leave Senlis passing the former St Vincent abbey, created in 1060 by Anne de Kiev. The buildings house today an high school ! You will walk through the Senlis forest heading to the former Cistercian Chaalis Abbey and its chateau, built in the 19th century, now serving as a museum. Circling through the countryside and the forest, you will return to Ermenonville where you might visit its famous park, landscaped according to the philosophy of Jacques Rousseau, where nature gives the appearance of being untouched by man, society and pollution. The philosopher was first buried on one of the islands in this park before being exhumed and transferred to the Panthéon in Paris. Transfer by taxi from Ermenonville to Senlis.
Day 6 Senlis
Tour ends after breakfast and a transfer by taxi to Chantilly or to Nanteuil le Haudoin train station.
Grade 1 : short walks of 3 to 5 hours each day on clearly way marked and flat paths. Everybody can walk this tour. 2 persons Minimum
Accommodation : Selected 2 star hotels or upgrade to 3 star hotels.
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What is Included
- 5 nights bed and breakfast in selected 2-star hotels
- 2 dinners
- luggage transfers
- Taxi transfers : Chantilly-the Royaumont abbey, Senlis-Ermenonville, Ermenonville-chantilly or Nanteuil le Haudoin railway stations
- Maps
- Route Instructions
Upgraded tour
- 5 nights bed and breakfast in selected 3-star hotels
- 3 gourmet dinners
- luggage transfers
- Taxi transfers : Chantilly-the Royaumont abbey, Senlis-Ermenonville, Ermenonville-chantilly or Nanteuil le Haudoin railway stations
- Maps
- Route Instructions
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Extras
- Transport before and after tour
- Single Rooms
- Hotel upgrade
- Flights
- Entrance to attractions
- Travel Insurance
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2008 Prices
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Standard Tour Code HOWPAR
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Upgraded Tour Code HOWPARL
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Price per persons based on 2 persons sharing double room
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£483
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£931
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Single person
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£672
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£1335
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How to get there
By Plane or train to Paris . Then by local train to Chantilly which can be reached from Paris North rail station in 30 minutes.
To view other walking holidays in France
Click Below if you would like to review our
Cycling Holidays in France
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