Think: racecourse, ceramics, lace, cream.......?

..... and the answer is Chantilly

Several photos would be needed to do justice to the character of this large site, a 30 minutes train ride north of Paris.  This photo gives an inkling of its principal components: the race course (to left, with grandstand), the adjacent massive baroque stables (early 18th century), the lake surrounding the castles, and a small part of the principal castle.

The grounds are substantial, and contain a Hameau (Hamlet) of half-timbered thatched buildings used by the aristocratic owners of the castle to entertain their aristocratic guests.  (This was the inspiration for Marie-Antoinette's rather more extensive hamlet in the gardens of Versailles.)  Be sure to order a dish with the genuine Crème Chantilly if you visit the little restaurant there.


For culture vultures.

 
If you like 17th century architecture or interesting collections of paintings or paintings, visit the principle castle; it has no fewer than THREE Raphael paintings, and a book collection which includes the medieval masterpiece, the book "Les très riches heures du Duc de Berri". The Raphaels you can see; the Heures is on display in its entirety only on a computer screen only - but even if you think you know the book you will probably discover that you have only seen a small part of it.