La Grande Écurie

Commissioned by King Louis XIV and designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the royal architect, La Grande Écurie is a splendid example of a royal stable. One of the two structures of the Les Écurie Royales, it was built in the late 17th Century to be the home of the King's horses, mainly stud horses that were used for hunting and war. Horses played a vital role in that age and a King's strength was determined by the number of horses he had and the lineage of these animals were also taken into account. It was not only the abode of over 2000 equine species, but also housed 1500 men that included horsemen, groomsmen, messengers, stablemen, musicians and equestrian doctors. Situated between Avenue de Paris and Avenue de Saint-Cloud, and located outside the Palace of Versailles, the Grande Écurie carries its equestrian heritage even today. The Galerie des Carrosses and Académie équestre de Versailles are within this historic building. Guided tours are available.