Not far from Chantilly is the small town of Senlis. It was one of the main residences for the kings of the first two French dynasties, the Carolingians and the Capetians. It was here that Hugo Capet, founder of the Capeting dynasty, was elected monarch.
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One of the mayors of the town in the 19th century refused to bring the railroad here, so today there is no industry in the town, and therefore no modern buildings, the town has been preserved intact, as it has been for centuries.
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In the center of the city stands a tall Gothic cathedral, the first cathedral in France dedicated to the Mother of God (Notre Dame de Senlis), the predecessor of the cathedrals of Paris and Chartres. Next to it bishop’s chambers and the remains of the royal palace, a powerful Roman wall and towers of the III century AD. And around – picturesque streets of the XIX century. with mansions XVI, XVII, XVIII centuries, the Gothic Church of St. Peter (Église Saint-Pierre), a chapel built in honor of the accession to the throne of Hugo Capet.
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The ancient part of the city is walled XII century, which today are beautiful alleys, several monasteries, a picturesque river, secret gates and exquisite greenery of nature, as if embracing the stone city.
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For Russian tourists, a particularly interesting place to visit is the ancient Abbey of St. Vincent (L’Abbaye de Saint-Vincent), which was founded in 1060 by Queen Anne, daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, married to Henry I. Anne decided to establish the abbey after the birth of her firstborn son Philip, the future king of France. The Byzantine name Philip was first used in the royal family of France by Anna, later becoming one of the most popular male names.
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A walk through Senlis, an aristocratic and wealthy town, is a stroll through the ancient French province of…
