When in beginning of 20th century, Fernand HALPHEN, a French compositor winner of several musical awards, bought these woods, he was completely amazed by the charm of the area. The forest, the small lakes, the countryside, the proximity of Chantilly, biggest horse training centre of Europe, the magnificent castle of the Condées Family, Senlis with its cathedrale and its medieval city center, all have rise his attention toward the small village of La Chapelle en Serval.



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In 1908, he decided to build his hunting mansion in one of the highest point of the Chantilly forest, from where he had an exceptionl view to the countryside. The legend says it was to offer a view to his wife that she should admire from her window when she was waking up in the morning.

He therefore turned to the architect SERGENT, who built the Trianon Palace. But finally the Norman style did not impress him enough to encourage the construction.
One of his students, Miss ZAMBELLI, dancer in the Opera of Paris, has recommended him to contact the famous designer, Guillaume TRONCHET.

In 1909, TRONCHET has introduced his plan to the compositor, according to which the Château included a theatre, a small but exact copy of the Opera comique of Paris where Mr. HALPHEN's first Opera was presented.

This project, which dedicated the exterior of the mansion to the hunting tradition, and the interior to the music was realised and the Château was built from 1907 to 1911.

Mr. HALPHEN finally died during the first World War.

During the second World War, the Château was completely robbed out, all the Louis XI and Louis XVI furniture except the fire place and most of the paintings were lost.

In 1989, The hunting mansion and 5 hectares of the land were bought from Mr. HALPHEN (the grandson of the compositor) in order to build a hotel.