Exhibition – Restored Treasures : a tribute to Bibliophile Patrons

The Château de Chantilly is home to an exceptional library. For a long time, books did not feature prominently in the château’s restoration programmes, which have tended to focus on art works that are more directly visible within the Musée Condé. They are now coming to the fore as preparations get underway for the major refurbishment of the Cabinet des Livres.

A conservation and protection campaign dedicated to the 14,000 precious volumes of the Cabinet was launched in 2019. Thanks to the involvement of numerous patrons (foundations, associations, companies and anonymous bibliophiles), a number of dusting, maintenance and restoration operations have been carried out. Showcasing around twenty iconic projects selected from the roughly 200 undertaken provides an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who have contributed.

The tour will take you on a journey to discover the history of books and bookbinding, and show you the materials and skills used. As well as highlighting the fragility of the books, the tour also gives visitors an insight into the exceptional quality of the Duc
d’Aumale’s collection, with some of the restorations having resulted in incredible discoveries

With the support of the Friends of the Musée Condé, the Friends of the Domaine de Chantilly, and the Heritage Foundation.