By Colin Randall in Paris
(Filed: 15/02/2005)
One of France's most magnificent castles, home to a spectacular art collection boasting three works by Raphael, is to be saved from falling into disrepair by a rich neighbour.
The Aga Khan, a British citizen and the spiritual leader of the world's estimated 20 million Ismaili Muslims, has set up a £50 million fighting fund to restore the chateau at Chantilly, personally pledging more than half the target to allow work to begin as soon as possible.
The castle has been home to some of the country's grandest families, including the Montmorencys and Bourbon Condés. French kings regularly feasted at the palace and enjoyed stag hunting in the nearby forest.
The main part of the building was destroyed during the French revolution but rebuilt in the 19th century by its last owner, Henri d'Orleans, the Duke of Aumale and son of King Louis Philippe. With French royalty now history, popular culture rules and Chantilly was last night the venue of a lavish Valentine's Day engagement party thrown by the footballer Ronaldo and the Brazilian model Daniela Cicarelli.
Set in more than 19,000 acres of land 30 miles north of Paris, the chateau is revered as much by horse-racing enthusiasts as art lovers and historians. It is currently run by the Institut de France.
Yet only about 300,000 people visit each year, leaving an annual gap between income and the cost of upkeep of as much as £1 million.
Hubert Monzat, who is in charge of the repair works on the Aga Khan's behalf, said that with 20 foundations to run from an annual budget of about £5 million, the Institut de France "could not by itself maintain a property subjected to the ravages of time".
He admitted that the final cost to complete all the work needed at Chantilly could rise to £70 million. The Aga Khan, whose personal fortune has been estimated at £6 billion, races his horses on the adjacent Chantilly racecourse. He grew up on a neighbouring property, Green Lodge, and his Aiglemont estate is nearby.