The Chantilly Forest

The Chantilly Forest

In 1886, the Duke of Aumale bequeathed the Chantilly estate to the Institut de France so that it would be “preserved for France (…) in its entirety, with its woods, lawns, waters, buildings and all that they contain…”. Shaped over the centuries through the successive acquisitions and landscaping works of the lords of Chantilly, from the Orgemont family in the Middle Ages to the Duke of Aumale in the 19th century, the Chantilly Forest is today a place for walking, horse training, tourism, hunting, and timber production.

The forest is composed mainly of oaks (48%), Scots pines (12%), and beeches (9%), along with lime trees. Its total area covers 6,344 hectares, extending well beyond the town of Chantilly, into southern Oise and northern Val-d’Oise.

A true green sanctuary north of Paris, the Chantilly Forest is a jewel of French natural heritage, carrying within its woods both the history and the beauty of its land.

Together, Let’s Save the Chantilly Forest

In 2018, a detailed survey of the Chantilly forest revealed a worrying acceleration in the decline of its oaks. Increasingly harsh climate conditions, combined with an unusual outbreak of cockchafers attacking the trees down to their roots, have multiplied the challenges of preservation. Yet the responsibility to safeguard this majestic natural heritage remains as urgent as ever.

It was in this context that the movement “Together, Let’s Save the Chantilly Forest” was launched in 2020: a collective bringing together people from all walks of life, united by their determination to find solutions to the challenges the forest faces today.

The initiative brings together landowners, forest managers, local authorities, ecologists, research and development institutes, anthropologists, historians, microbiologists, geneticists, forestry experts, modelers, climatologists, riders, hunters, environmental organizations, and local volunteers. Despite their diverse perspectives, they share one common purpose: to work collectively to keep the Chantilly forest alive and thriving for the next 50 years.

To stay informed about the movement’s latest news:

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Would you like to support us and join the movement?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to “Together, Let’s Save the Chantilly Forest” and become part of our volunteer team!

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