The Château de Chantilly, located in the Oise region of Hauts-de-France, has just been awarded the coveted title of Monument préféré des Français 2025. The victory was announced on Wednesday, September 17, during the program hosted by Stéphane Bern on France 3, from the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine in Paris. The château thus succeeds the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, winner of the 2024 edition, and beats out 13 other exceptional heritage sites spread across all French regions.
This distinction crowns an exceptional year for the Chantilly estate, owned by theInstitut de France. Anne Miller, general administrator of the château, was delighted with this recognition, which "rewards the remarkable work of our teams". With more than 500,000 visitors each year, the most visited tourist site in the Oise department confirms its status as a must-see French heritage site.
The competition was tough this year, with exceptional monuments in every region. Among the 14 finalists selected after a first round of voting in May were such prestigious sites as theAmphitheatre d'Arles (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), the Château de Chenonceau (Centre-Val de Loire), the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis (Île-de-France), and the Viaduc de Garabit (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).
The Citadelle in Besançon (Burgundy-Franche-Comté), the Pen Duick sailing ship in Lorient (Brittany), the Citadelle in Calvi (Corsica) and the Villa Les Rhumbs - Musée Christian-Dior in Granville (Normandy) also made the final list. The list also included the Remparts de Guérande (Pays de la Loire), the Place du Capitole in Toulouse (Occitanie) and the Château de Haroué (Grand-Est). Representing overseas France, the Jardin botanique de Valombreuse in Guadeloupe completed this prestigious selection.
The success of Château de Chantilly is due to the exceptional richness of this historic estate. Built in 1332, it houses France's second-largest collection of ancient paintings, after the Louvre. The museum, accredited as a Musée de France, also houses the precious library of Henri d'Orléans, considered the greatest bibliophile of his time.
The Grandes Écuries, built between 1719 and 1735, are home to the remarkable Musée vivant du Cheval, which traces the relationship between man and horse through the ages. The château's 115-hectare park, designated a Remarkable Garden, enchants visitors with its diversity. It combines the French garden designed by André Le Nôtre in the 17th century, the Anglo-Chinese garden of the late 18th century and the English garden of the early 19th century.
The selection process took several months. In May 2025, the French first chose the monument in their region from two proposals. Once this initial selection had been made, France Télévisions unveiled the list of 14 finalist monuments at the beginning of July. The final vote took place from July 3 to 18, 2025 on the france.tv website and by telephone.
The special program, produced by Morgane Production and directed by Guillaume Klein, is part of the 42nd edition of the European Heritage Days, held from September 19 to 21, 2025. The program highlights the more than 43,000 buildings listed or classified as Historic Monuments in France, testifying to the exceptional richness of our architectural and cultural heritage.
Since its creation in 2012, Stéphane Bern 's show has brought hundreds of heritage sites to the attention of the general public, contributing to their enhancement and protection. Once again this year, the annual rendezvous of French heritage enthusiasts will have shone the spotlight on architectural treasures sometimes unknown to the general public.
To find out more about the Château de Chantilly, France's favorite monument 2025, visit the château's official website to plan your visit. The complete program is available for replay on france.tv to relive this exceptional evening of heritage.
