Heritage Days 2024 at the Grande Ecurie de Versailles (78), the program

The Journées du Patrimoine 2024 are an opportunity to discover different arts: on the weekend of September 21 and 22, 2024, theAcadémie équestre de Versailles is inviting Parisians to discover the hidden heritage of the Château de Versailles by entering the Grande Écurie de Versailles, brought back into service by equerry Bartabas, who set up his compagnie-école there in 2003...

Located opposite the Château de Versailles, the Royal Stables were built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1679 and 1682 to house the horses and carriages of the King and Court.

[midroll]

The Grande Écurie de Versailles is an architectural gem dating from 1683, home to the royal cavalry and a magnificent riding arena and carriage gallery. Inspired by the Farnese Theatre in Parma, the manège is a fine example of 17th-century architecture. Fascinatingly, the building is a nod to the Château's Galerie des Glaces, with its majestic mirrors and Murano glass chandeliers.

The Galerie des Carrosses also showcases some of the finest carriages in thehistory of Versailles, including the sedans used at Napoleon I's wedding, Charles X's coronation carriage, Louis XVIII's funeral carriage, Marie-Antoinette's children's carriages and an astonishing collection of fancy sleighs made during the reign of Louis XV.

After this enchanting tour, head off to discover theOpéra de Versailles, a hidden Versailles landmark designed in 1682 by Jacques-Ange Gabriel to celebrate the wedding of the Dauphin - the future Louis XVI - to Marie-Antoinette.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of September 2 to 8, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• What to do in Paris and the Paris Region in September 2024? Back-to-school ideas

The 2024 Heritage Days program at the Grande Écurie de Versailles :

• Self-guided tour of the stables
  September 21 and 22
  

  This tour takes in the stables, designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart and renovated by Patrick Bouchain for the Académie, as well as the Manège, a wooden and mirrored structure modelled on the Farnese Theatre in Parma.
  Discover a page of history rewritten by Bartabas, through the Académie équestre de Versailles project.

  
  
  

• Straddling the skills divide
  September 21 and 22
  

  The entire Grande Écurie is celebrating the horse during the European Heritage Days. At the Versailles Campus, discover the rare skills associated with the equestrian arts: saddlery, bootmaking, ironwork and horsehair weaving, through demonstrations, initiations and an exhibition.
  In the former home of the Grand Écuyer, these exceptional crafts are honored by the artisans who bring them to life, from all over France. Saddler Mathilde Costeux, based at the Haras du Pin stud farm, invites visitors to discover the bespoke saddles and leather accessories she makes. Young bootmakers in training cross swords with up-and-coming metalworkers. Horsehair, used as a textile fiber since the 18th century, is highlighted by precious samples on loan from the Musée de la Toile de Jouy. Alongside them, little-known creations and tools complete this panorama of trades linked to the equestrian art.
  With the participation of :
  

  Mathilde Costeux, artisan saddler at Haras du Pin (61)
  Etablissement Régional d'Enseignement Adapté Jean Monnet, Garches (92)
  Lycée professionnel Ferdinand Fillod, Saint-Amour (39)
  Musée de la Toile de Jouy, Jouy-en-Josas (78)

  
  Discover also the European Heritage Days program at the Grande Écurie du Roi, the Galerie des Carrosses and the Académie Equestre de Bartabas.

  
  
  

• The horse at the Château de Versailles
  September 21 and 22
  

  To coincide with the Horse in Majesty exhibition at the Château de Versailles until November 3, we invite you to come and discover the Grande Ecurie!
  
  An immersive sound scenography will be set up in the Galerie des carrosses, and students from the Ecole du Louvre will be on hand to answer your questions about the architecture of the premises and the carriages housed there.
  The Académie du Spectacle Equestre will be opening some of its rooms to all visitors, free of charge and without reservation, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Shows will also be staged on Saturday at 6pm and Sunday at 3pm, according to current rates and conditions (booking essential).
  Finally, the Versailles Campus will be showcasing horse-related arts and crafts, in conjunction with the Musée de la Toile de Jouy, which is staging an exhibition on horsehair during this period.
  
  Opening hours: 9 a.m.-6.30 p.m. (last admission 5.30 p.m.)
  Free admission to the carriage gallery without reservation.