The performance of 'Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry' in the Château de Chantilly

The Très Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry is much more than just a manuscript. Celebrated as the “Mona Lisa” of manuscripts, this collection of offices and prayers, personalized for the Duke of Berry, brother of King Charles V, bears witness to the splendor and artistic refinement of the late Middle Ages. This exceptional book, produced throughout the 15th century on parchment, in tempera, gold, silver, and ink, counts among its illuminators the Limbourg brothers, eminent artists associated with the court of Burgundy and later Berry. On view at Château de Chantilly until October 5, 2025.

Chantilly castle

The Château de Chantilly is located in the valley of the Nonette, a tributary of the Oise. It stands approximately 40 kilometers north of the center of Paris. The castle stands on the site of a medieval fortress and consists of several parts:

• the Petit Château, also known as the Captain's House, which dates from the 16th century and is still in its original state,
• the Great Stables (Grandes Écuries) from the 18th century, currently used as a museum and
• the Château Neuf, originally also from the 16th century, destroyed during the French Revolution.

The current structure is a 19th-century reconstruction commissioned by Henry of Orléans, Duke of Aumale and youngest son of King Louis Philippe. He housed his collection of paintings and antique books there and bequeathed the complex to the Institut de France as the Musée Condé. The complex also includes a park garden of 115 hectares. The Forest of Chantilly is also part of the estate. The town of Chantilly originated to the west of the castle during and after the French Revolution.  

The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry

The Très Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry is much more than just a manuscript. Celebrated as the “Mona Lisa” among manuscripts, this collection of offices and prayers, personalized for the Duke of Berry, brother of King Charles V, bears witness to the splendor and artistic refinement of the late Middle Ages. This exceptional book, produced throughout the 15th century on parchment, in tempera, gold, silver, and ink, counts among its illuminators the Limbourg brothers, eminent artists associated with the court of Burgundy and later Berry. They consist of 121 miniatures and captivate with their depictions of historic castles (Palais de la Cité, Palais du Louvre, Château de Vincennes), royal scenes, and work in the fields, punctuated by the changing seasons. Visitors are invited to explore every phase in the creation of the Très Riches Heures, which took nearly a century. They can see the influence the book had on the artists who came into contact with it and understand why the manuscript remains so popular today. The exhibition focuses on the figure of Jean de Berry, his lavish patronage of the arts, and his taste for books. For the first time since the prince's death in 1416, all his Books of Hours known today are brought together in one place. This summit, made possible by loans of the most prestigious works – including the Belles Heures preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art – is accompanied by the presentation of a large part of the library of the Duc de Berry, one of the most famous from the Middle Ages. Come and admire the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, for you will never see them again!  

<strong> More info: </strong>

Chantilly Castle: https://chateaudechantilly.fr/evenement/les-tres-riches-heures-du-duc-de-berry/ Chantilly-Senlis tourism: https://www.chantilly-senlis-tourisme.com/nl/agenda/tentoonstelling-les-tres-riches-hours-du-duc-de-berry-au-chateau-de-chantilly/

The Van Limburg Brothers / The Van Lymborch Brothers:

https://historiek.net/gebroeders-van-limburg-gebroeders-van-lymborch/82100/ All parts of The Van Lymborch Brothers, broadcast Jan-Feb 2026, BNNVARA: https://npo.nl/start/serie/Onbekend-en-wereldberoemd-Gebroeders-van-Lymborch/afleveringen/seizoen-1