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of Chantilly, a bequest to the Institut de France. The palace
is called Musée Condé after the former owners—princes
who were cousins to the French kings. The cream-coloured
Renaissance palace, rebuilt after it was destroyed during the
French revolution, is surrounded by a lake and houses an
extensive collection of paintings and books. Here too, is the
Hippodrome racetrack that sponsors the annual Prix de Diane
Hermès, one of the most fashionable equestrian events of the
Parisian season. The 15,000-acre forest is popular for hiking
and cycling (http://www.chateaudechantilly.com).
Château de Fontainebleau
A 45-minutes train ride from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-
Avon and a short bus ride will take you to this exquisite
16th-century Renaissance palace built by François I and
expanded by later kings, even Napoleon, who bid farewell from
its courtyard as he went into exile. The palace is sumptuously
decorated and adorned with tapestries, paintings and frescoes.
Once the hunting grounds for French kings, the Fontainebleau
forest that surrounds the town is now a popular weekend outing
for Parisians (http://www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr).
Cathedral of Chartres
About 95 km southwest from Paris and accessible by train
from Gare Montparnasse, the charming town of Chartres
is famous for the stained glass windows of its cathedral,
built between 1145-1220. One of the greatest French
Gothic cathedrals, Notre Dame de Chartres is noted for its
magnificent 'Chartres blue'-and-red windows. Stroll through
the preserved medieval streets of the town to the 13th-
century Église Saint-Pierre, which also has stained glass, visit
the museum and see some particularly fine old houses as
you walk down to the banks of the river Eure. In the summer
months, there is a local tourist train that makes a round of
the town. See http://www.chartres.com.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Only 25 minutes from Gare de Lyon to Melun by train or by
the RER Line D2, this exquisite 17th-century country chateau
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