Senlis offers several distinct cultural and historical points of interest: a royal election, early Gothic architecture, museums with different focuses and an events programme. You can plan your stay around the specific themes that interest you and the available travel options.
Royal History and Early Gothic
Hugues Capet was elected King of France at the Château Royal de Senlis in 987. This gives the town’s history a clearly dated connection to the French monarchy. Notre-Dame de Senlis offers a different point of interest: its spire is 78 metres high and is among the tallest in the country. The cathedral is also considered an important example of early Gothic architecture. Here, a precisely dated royal election and a building notable for its height and art-historical significance appeal to different interests.
The Chapelle royale Saint-Frambourg
The Chapelle royale Saint-Frambourg combines architectural history with a cultural programme. It has been listed in the register of historic monuments since 1862. It includes a chapel founded by Queen Adélaïde in the 10th century, as well as another that Louis VII had rebuilt in the 12th century. The Franz Liszt Auditorium hosts concerts, visits and events for an audience of 450 people. The annual programme includes concerts, art exhibitions, festivals and guided tours. If you would like to include an event in your travel plans, check the dates in the specific programme in advance; individual events and visiting times may change.
Museums with Different Areas of Focus
The Musée des Spahis displays uniforms, pennants, parts of horse harnesses and weapons, as well as photographs, engravings, drawings and paintings relating to the history of the Spahis. Equipment and visual records are presented side by side, offering different ways to explore this historical subject. The Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie, by contrast, is housed in a former bishop’s palace. The former building itself provides the architectural and historical context. The museums therefore differ both in their subject matter and in the nature of their historical connections.
Discover Senlis on a Walking Tour
A discovery trail leads through the town centre and suburbs of Senlis. Its information panels link local squares or historic buildings with people or objects that have shaped local history. Rather than focusing on a collection of individual objects, the trail highlights the connections between places, buildings and the people or things that shaped history. This offers another way to explore the town, alongside its museums and architecture: the focus is on historical connections across the town and its suburbs.
Getting to Senlis
For travel by car, the A1 motorway is listed, with exit 8 for Senlis. By public transport, the route runs from Gare du Nord via Chantilly; bus route 645 then goes to the Notre-Dame / Cinéma stop. Check connections before departure, as transport details may change.
Discover more destinations: Senots, Rousseloy, Mont-L'évêque, Le Hamel, Vineuil-Saint-Firmin, Montreuil-Sur-Brèche, Attichy, Litz
For the overview of the wider region: Oise.
