Richard Mille, the Swiss watch brand, has announced its sponsorship of the first ever event celebrating all things French, in and around the grounds of the magnificent Chantilly castle near Paris on 6-7 September 2014.
The two-day event, with the grand name of Chantilly Art & Elegance, will celebrate the French 'art de vivre', from gastronomy through to haute couture and art exhibits, the highlight of which will be a display of fine automobiles, both old and new.
Organised by Peter Auto, the man behind famous car events such as the Le Mans Classic, this new initiative has attracted some of the most beautiful cars from the past century as well as exciting new concept cars. Don't miss the most valuable car in the world, a Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon that belonged to Ettore Bugatti, or the Panhard & Levassor Type M2F from 1897.
As well as classic cars, a line-up of concept cars will parade along the gravel drives of the estate around the 'mirror lakes' that surround the castle of Chantilly. The winner of the Concours d'Elégance and the Most Beautiful Cars in the World prizes, based on aesthetic criteria as opposed to performance, will be announced at the end of the day. Each concept car will be paired with a fashion designer, who has created an outfit that will be modelled alongside the automobile during the parade.
But there is much more than highly buffed steel on display. The castle will be open to visitors, including the ancient paintings on display at the Condé Museum, second only to those of the Louvre. Other art forms will also be celebrated, including equestrian skills, haute couture, hat making, table setting and demonstrations, naturellement, of how to whip up a perfect Chantilly cream. Picnics on the lawn, flutes of cool champagne and an itinerant jazz band will add to the relaxed and refined ambience of the event.
Richard Mille, which produces some of the most sophisticated watches on the market, has stepped up as the sponsor of the first edition of this event. As supreme exponents of impeccable mechanical engineering and luxury, Chantilly is a fitting venue to showcase Richard Mille's watches. Those who appreciate the elegance and glamour of vintage cars and fancy spending a delicious weekend in the countryside will discover just what the French mean by 'art de vivre' at the upcoming Chantilly Arts & Elegance event, this 6 and 7 of September.
