Equestrian show – Kalendae

Let yourself be swept away on an equestrian journey into a reimagined Middle Ages…

On the occasion of the Château de Chantilly’s major 2025 exhibition — showcasing for only the third time since the 19th century the manuscript The Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, an absolute masterpiece of medieval illumination often dubbed “the Mona Lisa of manuscripts” — the members of Chantilly’s Compagnie équestre des Grandes Écuries presents a poetic and original show in celebration of this international event: Kalendae, the Dance of the Hours.

Conceived as a living tribute to the magnificent work of the Limbourg brothers, famed illuminators of the manuscript, this show draws its inspiration from the visual and symbolic richness of their extraordinary miniatures. Scenes of peasants and the aristocracy, fantastical creatures, signs of the zodiac, the seasons and ancient crafts all intertwine to bring to life a re-imagining of the Middle Ages.

Since autumn 2024, the members of Chantilly’s Compagnie équestre des Grandes Écuries have been patiently studying every minute detail of these paintings to faithfully recreate their true essence in an immersive, enchanting equestrian tableau. Beneath the great dome, which has been transformed for the occasion, the audience are invited to join the round of hours, surrounded by artists from a variety of disciplines, including singers, dancers, tumblers, aerial acrobats and, of course, horses, ponies and donkeys, a staple component of this living theatre.

Kalendae brings to life a world full of dragons, unicorns, noble ladies, peasants, woodcutters and harvesters; a world where writing, the arts, science and astronomy inspired the learned. A moment suspended in time and a magical, sensory experience for all ages.

A unique, sensory and timeless experience to be lived to the fullest, from July 12 to August 17, 2025.