Chatsworth open for 2006 season

Chatsworth's attractions are open every day until 23 December 2006. In one of the busiest and most varied seasons ever planned, visitors can see a new eight room exhibition celebrating the life and interests of the late Duke of Devonshire, major conservation work in the house's Painted Hall, the grand 300 year old state apartments spectacularly re-presented, contemporary sculpture indoors and outside, water buffalo in the farmyard, midsummer music and fireworks in our summer open air concert and a completely new Christmas presentation from 4 November. Finally, a newly expanded season ticket scheme offers unlimited access to all that Chatsworth has to offer, through the changing seasons.

During their first full season in residence at Chatsworth, the 12th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and everyone who works on the estate, are delighted to be sharing Chatsworth with visitors once again. The Duke says: "In the last 11 weeks, everyone has worked incredibly hard to prepare Chatsworth for another season, with new displays and many other exciting developments. I hope all our visitors will enjoy seeing the mix of tradition and innovation for which Chatsworth has always been famous. We look forward to sharing the beauty and variety of Chatsworth with local and international visitors this year."

Ducal exhibition: One of the key highlights for 2006 is our new eight room exhibition, celebrating the life, collecting and many other interests of the 11th Duke. This exhibition, put together by the Dowager Duchess and Chatsworth staff, has a complimentary new audio tour, with contributions from many people who knew him.

State Rooms enriched: Another development that visitors will notice is the first part of a 2 year plan to re-present the 1st Duke's important 300 year old state rooms. This new display helps to convey the original use and appearance of these magnificent rooms, and many familiar treasures, and some new ones, can now be seen better than ever before.

Caesar unveiled: For the very first time, until the end of May our visitors can see a major conservation project while it is taking place - this is the cleaning of the walls of the 300 year old Painted Hall, and visitors will be able to see, via a camera, the expert restorers carefully taking off dirt and old varnish, so that it will be much easier to see the painted scenes of the life of Julius Caesar. All our conservation work is paid for by the Chatsworth House Trust, the independent charity that runs Chatsworth, and to which all ticket admission money goes.

New Christmas displays : from November 4th until December 23rd , our Christmas display will be in fewer rooms than before, but decorated much more richly, with many different types of real tree for examples, to tell the stories of the 12 days of Christmas, one story in each room.

Sculpture: This Autumn, we are delighted to be hosting a new venture for us - an international sculpture exhibition, called 'Beyond Limits', in the garden, created and organised by Sotheby's. For 2 months, from mid- September, important work by many famous sculptors will be on view (and on sale) through the garden.

Duchess in bloom: In the rose garden this summer, visitors will see 20 new 'Deborah Devonshire' roses. This rose was propagated and presented by the rose growers of Tyler, a town in Texas (the rose capital of America), in honour of the Dowager Duchess, after a big art exhibition from Chatsworth toured to their museum last year.

New animals: The farmyard continues to increase its range of events for families and children through the seasons, and this year they are expecting both a donkey foal, and will also have some water buffalo on display, from a tenant farm on the estate.