“With 57,500 visitors, the attendance of Chaalis experienced, in 2024, an increase of 6% compared to the previous year, rejoices Alexis de Kermel, the general administrator of Domaine de Chaalis. Compared to 2019, the reference year before the Covid crisis, attendance jumped by more than 80% and stabilized above 50,000 visitors, a symbolic milestone reached in 2023.
This increasing attendance makes the Chaalis area the 4thth most visited monument/museum in the Oise, behind the castle of Chantillythe castle of Pierrefonds and the palace of Compiègne. An essential trifecta but which will nevertheless have to take into account Chaalis in the years to come.
Cultural offers for families
“This trend is linked to the cultural offers for families put in place during the holidays,” believes Alexis de Kermel. Each year begins with Mystère à Chaalis, on the theme of carnival, during the vacation which is followed by the nature-themed Spring Adventure at Easter. After the Rose Days, which take place on the 2nd weekend of June, and which will welcome 15,000 visitors in 2024, the Great Adventure of Chaalis is held throughout the summer, which includes a falconry show and a treasure hunt. . The All Saints’ Day holidays welcome the Ghost of Chaalis while Christmas in Chaalis evokes castle life in 1900, punctuated by fireworks daily.”
Chaalis also hosts private concerts or the traditional Christmas market in mid-November. Seminars can also be organized there.
Work will be completed
The year 2025 will be marked by the completion of the work on the Little Stable and the launch of the renovation of the networks and the castle-museum. This work will lead to the closure, at the end of 2025, of the castle, which will be compensated, from 2026, by the implementation of a renewed cultural offer dedicated to the royal abbey and nature.
The Domaine de Chaalis extends over some one thousand hectares. It occupies a privileged position north of Paris, in the immense semi-circle of the great forests of the north of Île-de-France and the borders of Picardy. Its entrance is located just opposite that of the Sea of Sand.
Bequeathed to the Institut de France in 1912 by Nélie Jacquemart, widow of Edouard André, the Royal Abbey of Chaalis presents, beyond seven centuries of history, the splendor of an exceptional collector’s residence.
The ruins of the 13th century abbey churchth century, the Sainte-Marie chapel decorated with 16th century frescoesth century, the immense park, the delicious rose garden and the ponds add to the appeal of this extraordinary museum.
The highly acclaimed Rose Days
The Chaalis estate has several buildings open to visitors, alongside the ruins of the church, the cloister and the dormitory of the old abbey. The Sainte-Marie chapel, whose interior is decorated with magnificent frescoes by the Italian artist Primaticcio, adjoins the rose garden where the very popular Rose Days take place each year. The castle-museum exhibits part of the fabulous Jacquemart-André collection: furniture, tapestries, sculptures, paintings, but also panels painted by Giotto and many other art objects. The rest of the couple’s collection can be seen in the Parisian museum that bears their names, at 158 boulevard Haussmann. The royal abbey is also the starting or finishing point of the popular Writers’ Trail.
The only downside to this great place is the parking lots. When it rains, mud baths are guaranteed. And the holes on the central aisle are more and more impressive. But there is no doubt that Alexis de Kermel and his team are already there.
