Chateau de Chantilly, a historic French chateau north of Paris, has launched a major fundraising campaign to secure €68 million (£59 million) for urgent renovations. The estate, which houses the Musée Condé—France's second-largest art collection after the Louvre—requires significant work over the next decade to protect its precious book collection.
The chateau, originally built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 19th century by Henri d'Orléans, contains a reading room with some 60,000 volumes, including rare antique books and illuminated medieval manuscripts. According to the estate, €33 million (£29 million) is needed for urgent health needs alone, with a total of €68 million required over ten years to restore listed buildings.
Despite revenue of €19.8 million (£17.1 million) last year, the chateau stated it is currently unable to cope with the massive investment required. The 'Chantilly 2030' strategy aims to preserve the site's architectural heritage and maintain visitor numbers, which reached 658,164 in 2025—a 20 per cent increase from 2024.
The chateau, voted 'France's favourite monument' in a 2025 poll, will launch a broad appeal to public generosity this year to finance the library restoration. Work includes updating air conditioning, stabilising the floor, overhauling electrical systems, and restoring leather shelving and parquet flooring.
