Musée de la Vénerie (Hunting Museum)
Housed inside the royal priory of Saint-Maurice within the château grounds, the Musée de la Vénerie is the only museum in France dedicated entirely to the art and culture of the hunt — and it is far more beautiful and strange than that description suggests. Painted hunting horns, Flemish tapestries, Oudry still-lifes and ceremonial livery fill rooms that smell pleasantly of old wood.
The Collection
The museum holds over 800 works spanning four centuries, from 17th-century Dutch hunting paintings to the elaborately engraved powder flasks used by Louis XIV's court at Chantilly. The collection of hunting horns — some gilded, some painted with miniature forest scenes — is the finest in Europe.
A long gallery of 19th-century equestrian paintings captures the Chantilly hunts in full gallop, with the Forêt de Chantilly's distinctive silver birch and oak groves rendered in loving detail by artists who clearly spent a lot of time on horseback.
The Building Itself
The priory dates from the 12th century and the vaulted chapter house, now used to display tapestries, retains its original carved capitals. Even if hunting culture leaves you cold, the architecture alone justifies the entrance fee.
The château grounds surrounding the museum — part of the old royal enclosure — are open to stroll freely and connect directly to the Roman ramparts walk, making a natural pairing for a half-day itinerary.
Visiting Practicalities
The museum is genuinely uncrowded even in high summer, which means you can spend as long as you like in front of the big tapestries without being jostled. Audio guides are available in French and English.
Combined tickets with the Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie next door offer good value if you want a full cultural immersion in Senlis's surprisingly rich museum scene.
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