Noel, le Cheval et l'Enfant at Chantilly

[annettecinca]

With all the holiday hustle and bustle, I'm not sure when I'll get back to finishing my reports. But I would be seriously remiss if I didn't post a little about one of the highlights of our trip before the season is over and the opportunity for others to attend has passed.

On our last full day of this past trip, we braved the cold, rain and wind and traveled to Chantilly to see the chateau and Musée Vivant du Cheval. Both were beautiful and very worthwhile, but I will report on them later! The highlight of this day was seeing the show, "Noel, le Cheval et l'Enfant--Les Chevaux de Féerie".

I was expecting something more on the line of a fancy dressage I suppose, so was really surprised and thrilled to find it was a theatrical performance done on horseback. The narration was in French (of course!), but the beautiful music and acting enabled us to follow the storyline very well. There were a few details in the overall plot I'm a little foggy on, but that didn't stop me from tearing up at the proper moments (what can I say, I'm a sucker for love stories!). It was very well done and had a magical, fairytale feel that really transported me to another time and place. I'm not a "horse person", but was in awe seeing the beautiful creatures that performed in this show--they were all impeccably groomed and SO well trained! The performance was designed to showcase the skills of the riders, and this it did perfectly.

If any of you who will be in Paris before Jan. 6 can squeeze in a trip out there, it would be well worth your time. Cost was I believe 18€ at the door. Info at www.museevivantducheval.fr/fr/spectacles/noeletenfant.html

[suzanne]

Annette, That is fantastic! I wish I could go. Please send me details on how you got to Chantilly. We tried to go there once. Ended up getting off one stop past where we needed to, and had to wait several hours to get a train back. Jim was very grumpy by then. Well, you can imagine. I was not so travel savy and misunderstood the directions. The book said heading towards Creil. I thought that meant get off at Creil.

[willow]

Oh wow..that looks wonderful! I would love to see a show like that!
Horses are amazing creatures, and are second in my book after beastly dogs!

[sistereurope]

Wow Annette - I've never seen anything like that. My daughter will go nuts when I show her these pics...her two main passions are theater and horses!!!!
She'll probably beg me to take her to this now. ;D

[Shoesy]

That performance must have been very unique. I not only love doggies and kitties, but I'm also I'm very fond of horses, though I haven't had much experience with them. I used to love watching "Fury" and "My Friend Flicka" when I was a kid. Do any of you more mature posters remember those TV shows?

[Anne]

Even if I am NOT a "mature poster" of course , I used to watch "Mon amie Flicka" too . And also a British series called "Black Beauty", know this one ?

[Shoesy]

I know that Anna Sewell wrote a book called "Black Beauty", but I don't think I ever saw the TV series.

[geordy]

Yes I recall Fury and Flicka..they were my OLDER sister's favorites..she got out of going grocery shopping with the family on Saturday morns to watch!!

I too read Black Beauty..how people could be so mean to such an exquisite and intelligent horse is beyond me..but don't think we had the tV show here..before PBS I guess.

[sandy]

Nice pictures Annette, I'm glad you enjoyed the show.

Suzanne: Going to Chantilly is very easy, you have to take the train at Gard du Nord in direction to Creil, but you have to get off at Chantilly-Goiveux. You can see more details in this thread:

www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi?board=destinations&action=display&thread=1182324106

[Happygoin]

Annette, again with the WONDERFUL pictures. Thank you for taking the time to share them with us...even those of us with the tiniest bit of fear of horses

[holger]

Thank you for the wonderful pictures. I am really beginning to think of a late December , early January trip for the festivities and then the sales. But not this year.

Maybe next, but more likely 2009-2010.

[rssilverandlight]

annette - a lovely set of photographs, congratulations !

[annettecinca]

Thanks, Randy--I'm glad you were able to overlook all the backs of people's heads

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

What an interesting thing to do! How did you happen to know about it? (And thanks for the pictures!)

[annettecinca]

Becky, I found it on their website when I was checking hours and how to get there several months ago. Like I said, I really didn't know what to expect, but I'm so glad we went. Irish mentioned it in a post recently too, so it's probably advertised somewhere. I've read since being home that it is put on every year, but it's different each year, not the same story. We were there the second day it opened, and there was a TV crew interviewing people as they came out--and I was praying they didn't stick the camera and mike in my face!