His Highness the Aga Khan is honoured by the Institut de France and the Town of Chantilly for restoring the Estate of Chantilly to its former glory – “Its a beautiful, beautiful story”

This plaque, this road, are discreet and modest witnesses to a colossal work. For the Aga Khan’s hallmark is inscribed everywhere in the Chteau’s rooms, as it is in the subtle network of lines running through its grounds. You know that thanks to his generosity, he was able to accompany the transformation of this French heritage landmark for some fifteen years. Thanks to him, like a promise of eternity, this estate will be restored to its former splendour…. Mr Xavier Darcos, Chancellor of the Institut de France, June 2023.

Introduced and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT

BACKGROUND

Just under 11 years ago, on October 16, 2012, Simergphotos, the sister website of Barakah, published a special photo piece on Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Chateau de Chantilly for which he had established a special foundation — The Foundation for the Safe-keeping and Development of the Chantilly Domain — to restore the Chteau along with its park, gardens, as well as the Great Stables to its original magnificence.

Prior to the project’s commencement, the Chantilly estate was beset with numerous problems. With water infiltration and high humidity compounded by a failing hydraulic system, which led to a rising water table, it became clear that the problems at Chteau de Chantilly were widespread. 

The entire estate was placed on the 2002 World Monuments Watch. WMF supplied technical expertise and advice on effective treatments and conservation methods.

Playing a significant part in Chantillys resurrection was the nearby Aiglemont estate, where His Highness the Aga Khan had lived and stabled his horses for years. He summoned two consulting companies and came up with a 20 year plan to restore the entire estate whose original beauty had been seriously altered by time and neglect. For this significant intervention, His Highness and his younger brother Prince Amyn, were recognised for their contributions to culture in a ceremony held on November 9, 2010 in Paris.

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Background photographs

Speaking at the ceremony, the French Minister for Culture and Communication, Frdric Mitterrand, addressing the Aga Khan on the Chantilly project, said:

“As a great advocate of culture, fascinated by places that embody a strong cultural identity, you have saved a jewel of French culture, of which the Princess of Cleves said, of all the places under the sun, there is not one to match it. I refer, of course, to Chantilly. Like Le Ntre embarking on a twenty-year plan to create gardens worthy of the estate, you too decided to support an immense twenty-year project for the entire site through your foundation.”

The Minister went on to say:

“The estate of Chantilly, its history, salons and collections, are greatly indebted to you. Thanks to you, it will regain its former glory, through the restoration of both the chateau and the collections, the renovation of the grounds and the implementation of a comprehensive improvement plan. The ambition of the great French princes has now been taken up by Your Highness; you have become the architect of a spectacular renaissance, which you mention with great modesty.”

The Minister also paid rich tributes to Prince Amyn with the following words:

“I must not forget your [Prince Amyn Aga Khans] function as administrator in an institution dear to my own heart: the World Monuments Fund (WMF), the worlds leading private international organisation devoted to the preservation of historic monuments and sites on all five continents. Since its foundation in 1965, the WMF has brought public and private partners together in joint projects that have permitted the restoration of an unprecedented number of historic buildings in over 80 countries.”

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With that background story and photographs, Barakah presents excerpts from a report in the Ismaili website dated June 2, 2023 on the special celebration held in the courtyard of the Grandes Ecuries of the prestigious Chantilly to honour Mawlana Hazar Imam’s commitment to the town of Chantilly (please read the complete Ismaili story HERE.)

JUNE 2, 2023: Institut de France and the Town of Chantilly honour mawlana hazar imam, HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN

We are proud to inscribe the name of a Prince spiritual leader of the Ismailis, in the history and in the stone of the Chantilly estate — Xavier Darcos

Under a radiant sun, distinguished guests gathered in the courtyard of the Grandes Ecuries of the prestigious Chantilly estate for a special celebration — a tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam by the Institut de France and the Town of Chantilly.

Mawlana Hazar Imam was represented by Prince Amyn at the unveiling of a plaque at the Great Stables and the His Highness the Aga Khan Road sign. Also present were Princess Zahra, Prince Hussain, Prince Aly Muhammad, and Hazar Imams grandson, Iliyan. Prince Amyn delivered a speech including a message of gratitude from Mawlana Hazar Imam.

ric Woerth, Member of Parliament for Oise, recalled the many discussions that led to the realisation of this ambitious undertaking:

Foundation was born on paper and in the minds of both the Institut de France and Prince Karim Aga Khan…There was this extraordinary support for the cultural life of Chantilly, for the cultural life of the estate and for the idea that we should also market this estate a little more and make it a little better known. It’s a beautiful, beautiful story.

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(Left to right): Iliyan Boyden, Eric Woerth, Isabelle Wojtowiez, Prince Hussain, Prince Aly Muhammad, Prince Amyn, Xavier Darcos, Princess Zahra, and Florence Woerth pose for a photograph with the plaque. Photograph: AKDN/Thomas Wibaux. Photograph: AKDN/Thomas Wibaux.

 » data-medium-file= »https://barakahweb.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/20230603_aga-profile_plaque.jpg?w=500″ data-large-file= »https://barakahweb.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/20230603_aga-profile_plaque.jpg?w=1024″ src= »https://barakahweb.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/20230603_aga-profile_plaque.jpg » alt= »(Left to right): Iliyan Boyden, Eric Woerth, Isabelle Wojtowiez, Prince Hussain, Prince Aly Muhammad, Prince Amyn, Xavier Darcos, Princess Zahra, and Florence Woerth pose for a photograph with the plaque. » class= »wp-image-43419″/>

This collective project, mobilising the town of Chantilly, the department, the region, the State and the Institut de France, was able to benefit from the experience gained by the Aga Khan Development Network, particularly in the field of culture, as Prince Amyn explained in his speech: 

Drawing on the experience developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in conservation, museology and management of numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, the aim was to maintain and restore the majesty and grandeur of the entire Chantilly estate, placing innovation at the heart of thoughtful, efficient and sustainable management wherever necessary.

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The result is palpable and the impact is lasting, as evidenced by the moving message of Mr Xavier Darcos, Chancellor of the Institut de France:

This plaque, this road, are discreet and modest witnesses to a colossal work. For the Aga Khan’s hallmark is inscribed everywhere in the Chteau’s rooms, as it is in the subtle network of lines running through its grounds. You know that thanks to his generosity, he was able to accompany the transformation of this French heritage landmark for some fifteen years. Thanks to him, like a promise of eternity, this estate will be restored to its former splendour”. 

We are proud to inscribe the name of a Prince spiritual leader of the Ismailis, in the history and in the stone of the Chantilly estate.

He requested that Prince Amyn accept our immense gratitude… the immense gratitude we all owe [His Highness] for Chantilly, the unfailing gratitude he has brought to our heritage and, I would say, the gratitude of the entire nation.

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An equally moving testimony came from Isabelle Wojtowiez, the Mayor of Chantilly, when she declared: This morning, the town of Chantilly honours itself by naming the road, which will remain a paved road, the Route Son Altesse l’Aga Khan (His Highness the Aga Khan Road). From now on, in the same way that the gates of the Chteau de Versailles are accessed via the Route de la Reine (Road of the Queen), the gates of the Chteau de Chantilly, and the town as a whole, will be accessed via the Route de Son Altesse l’Aga Khan.

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Members of Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s family (left to right) Princess Zahra, Iliyan Boyden, Prince Aly Muhammad, Prince Hussain, and Prince Amyn pose for a photograph with the street sign. Photograph: AKDN/Thomas Wibaux.

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Mawlana Hazar Imams commitment to the Chantilly estate is part of an ambitious and a long-term vision, Prince Amyn recalled: 

“My brother has always sought to present this heritage to the world not as a shining testimony to the past, but as a beacon for tomorrow, a light to illuminate our everyday lives. By preserving, conserving, restoring and rehabilitating, we transform the assets of history into economic springboards for future generations, while underlining and reminding us that what we share is greater and more essential than our differences.”

It is this vision of hope, unity and sharing, embodied by Mawlana Hazar Imam, which will continue to illuminate the town of Chantilly and its future.

No doubt the area will maintain an important role in the wider system of Imamat institutions and actions, illustrating what we can achieve together beyond our differences, and much more.

Date posted: June 3, 2023.

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Before departing this website please take a moment to visit Barakahs Table of Contents for links to more than 350 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. Also visit Barakahs two sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos.

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