I take it you ride?
In this article I will be showing you around the Chateau De Chantilly, as seen in the movie A View to a Kill.* I took the slowest train from Châtelet Les Halles to Chantilly-Gouvieux, slept for the majority.
On arrival we followed a man carrying two large baguettes along a footpath that was submerged in huge maple leafs that boasted all the shades of Autumn. As we approached Chateau De Chantilly we stationed ourselves at the very entrance that May Day snuck into Sir Godfrey Tibbett’s car as he announced ‘just off to town to get the car washed’. I managed to get a photo of a cylinder Enzo Ferrari as it peeled away.
Just going into town to get the Ferrari washed
Step inside
Finally we got to explore the beauty of Chateau De Chantilly, covering it’s every nook and orifice. The library was majestic, elongated with two leather chairs at the far end. There was an impressive dining room and a sign told you that Alexander Dumas ate some chicken nuggets there. Or something to that effect.
I was hoping we’d spend the evening together
After a quick saunter around the Chateau we stumbled across the bridge where Bond crashed and burned with Stacey. The bridge has lost its decorative shielding from the movie, but you can walk across it. The stables are an interesting spectacle. I looked for a secret switch to take me to a secret lab but sadly in vain. As Rog’ would say, ‘Quite a let down‘.
Someone will take care of you..
No statue of Roger
There is absolutely nothing in Chateau De Chantilly to signify that Bond was here. No Zorin key ring, no May Day cuddly toy, no plaque on the doors to say Rog and May Day got it on in this room. It was as if the entire town had wanted to forget that Bond was here…… Or so I thought. We left the grounds, retraced our steps back to the train station and there it was. We had completely missed it on the walk in.
Pegasus?
There she is
She sat unassumingly in the corner of the forecourt. Again with no official plaque or sign aloft, but I knew it was her. The Car Wash that poor Sir Godfrey Tibbett had met his demise. I scampered into the station for a confirmation.
“Is this the car wash that May Day strangled Sir Godfrey Tibbett in, in A View to a Kill? I asked the assistant whose eyes were so wide with fear, for a minute I thought she was going to push a panic button under the desk.
Just nipping into town. God what was I wearing.
On the Right Tracks of 007
She referred me to a non-English speaking supervisor who shrugged. A man entered, with a rakish physique, black horn rimmed glasses and scrunched grey hair, “I have to tell you something?” he said with calm authority, of course with a thick French accent.
This is the car wash. This is the one.
I nearly cried, I nearly hugged him. Instead I ran out in giddy excitement and got the missus to take my picture against the bristles of the beautiful car wash. The supervisor came out and handed me a magazine. It was a french brochure of the making of A View to a Kill. SO BOND WAS HERE! I paid $12 for the magazine, which seemed like a made up price, but a small one. Of course it was all in French but that didn’t matter. The pictures were gorgeous and a token that Chantilly had not forgotten.
Playing his golden harp
* This article has been repurposed. If you click on any image you can follow me on Instagram where I spend most of my time.
The missus outside Chateau De Chantilly
The Conde Museum
Below is a photo I took inside the Conde Museum inside the Chateau. The Conde Museum collection does not travel.
The Conde Collection
Further Reading
If you enjoyed this Bond location blog then be sure to check out the Travel Section of the blog for more.
If you want to learn more about the James Bond Paris locations then I recommend ON THE TRACKS OF 007. It is my bible when I go travelling.
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