Senlis

Senlis was a royal residence from the Merovingians onward, and in 987 the assembly that elected Hugh Capet king of the Franks met here, beginning the Capetian line that ruled France for centuries. The town keeps its Gallo-Roman wall, largely intact around the old core, a royal castle in ruins, and a cathedral begun in 1153 whose west portal carries an early and influential Coronation of the Virgin. The lanes inside the walls are cobbled and largely unaltered, which has made the town a frequent film location. A museum of hunting occupies a former bishops' palace.

What you actually see

• The Gallo-Roman wall - a largely complete Roman circuit around the old town.
• The cathedral portal - an early Coronation of the Virgin of around 1170.
• The royal castle ruins - remains of the residence where Capet was elected.
• The cobbled lanes - a medieval street plan used often for filming.

When to go

April to October; the town is small and quiet year-round. Museums close on some weekdays. There is no train station, so access is by bus from Chantilly or by car.

Honest expectations

There is no railway station; the bus from Chantilly is the practical route. The town is small and covered in a few hours. Some museums keep limited hours.

Nearby

Chantilly lies west; Compiegne is northeast.